The Rebirth of Language
LLMs as a Lens on Style
This event starts September 3, 2026.
AI-generated text used to be easy to spot. It was unpolished, awkward, and it often made no sense. These days it not only passes as human, it can seem better than the real thing. Across the world, people are turning to tools like ChatGPT and Claude for friendship, therapy, and romantic connection. In this context, widespread beliefs about what makes speech and writing meaningful start to seem doubtful. If we can be deeply affected by machines that have no feelings themselves, we’re forced to ask: where does meaning come from in the first place?
“The Rebirth of Language: LLMs as a Lens on Style” explores this provocation from several angles. First, we use game-based thought experiments to clarify our assumptions about how communication and intention work, and what’s going on when they break down. From there, an interactive lecture adds context to the discussion, emphasizing historical and current research from philosophers, cultural theorists, cognitive scientists, and technologists. Our touchstone is the ongoing “AI culture wars,” where being “pro” or “anti” AI takes on political importance. Giving credit to both sides of the debate, we conclude with remarks on style as a primary vector of meaning. An extended version of a seminar first delivered in person earlier this year, “The Rebirth of Language” is for those who work with AI, have strong feelings about it, or don’t know how to begin thinking about it. By the end, we’ll have a new conceptual toolkit to help us stay grounded and clear-headed as this technology evolves.
Format
The event consists of one live Zoom session, approx. 2 hours long, and a dedicated space on Weirdosphere where the presenter and participants can post thoughts, share links, and engage in discussion before and after the event. A recording of the event will be made available after the Zoom call and will remain available in the event space for all registrants.
The evening will unfold in three parts. At the beginning, participants are guided through structured thought experiments. These can be done with others or as a solo exercise, and participants have the option to share their answers or not. We will then have an interactive presentation built around big-picture questions related to AI, language, and communication. We end with a candid conversation about how AI is impacting creativity, relationships, and work, making connections to ideas and examples explored throughout the evening.
Schedule
The event will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and will take place over Zoom via the Weirdosphere learning platform. A video recording of the session will be made available to registrants after the event concludes.
Why Attend This Event?
Participants will:
- Apply critical thinking about AI.
- Try thought experiments.
- Engage directly with Emma and other participants in discussion.
- Gain access to a recording of the event to consume asynchronously.
- Participate in an ongoing conversation by posting, sharing, and exchanging direct messages with the presenter and other participants on the Weirdosphere platform.
- Join an online learning community inspired by Weird Studies, gaining discounts on all future Weirdosphere courses and access to past offerings.
Instructor Bio
Emma Stamm is a writer and scholar specializing in critical theory and science and technology studies. She holds a PhD in interdisciplinary studies from Virginia Tech, and she is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Lenox Institute for Advanced Studies and adjunct faculty at the Bard Microcollege in Brooklyn. Her writing has appeared in Real Life, Vice Motherboard, and Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery, among other venues. She has held teaching appointments at SUNY Farmingdale, Villanova University, New York University, and Virginia Tech. She is also the co-host of LEPHT HAND, the sibling podcast of Acid Horizon.