Summer University Launches with Call for Responsible AI Use
Antonio Martinón Cejas, former rector of the University of La Laguna, inaugurated the 33rd edition of the Summer University in Adeje on 3 July, delivering a keynote address titled “A Canary’s Reflections on the World of Tomorrow.”
His speech focused on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its technological and political implications. He warned against the temptation for wealthy technologists to use AI to control society, highlighting the need for humanistic values and institutional responsibility to safeguard democracy.
The ceremony featured musical performances from local artists, including timple player Alba Chávez, the duo Voz y Alma (comprising Daniela Díaz Santana and Pablo Bello Muñoz), and the Adeje Municipal Music School choir.
Mayor Rodríguez Fraga described the Summer University as a “serious and established” service to the community, successfully enduring amidst the decline of similar educational programmes elsewhere. He attributed its success to serving a young, transformative society.
This year’s event has seen nearly 500 participants registered, marking the best attendance in a decade, with enrolments still open. Martinón announced that no courses or workshops have been cancelled due to high participation.
He noted the ongoing commitment to enhancing the South Campus with new activities beyond its current tourism degree programme.
In his address, Martinón referenced two influential authors, Stefan Zweig and Ryszard Kapuściński, in relation to the future. He expressed concern about a prevalent “unjustified” pessimism regarding the future, though he acknowledged existing challenges. He pointed out positive trends over recent decades in tackling inequality and extreme poverty, arguing against a defeatist mindset.
Highlighting recent technological revolutions, he labelled AI as both a potential benefit and significant risk, urging vigilance as its development continues. Martinón quoted Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, “Magnifica humanitas,” which warns that AI is “not neutral” and reflects the intentions of its creators.
He specifically called out Dario Amodei, founder of Anthropic, and Peter Thiel, co-founder of Palantir, discussing the implications of their innovations amidst conflicts in places like Ukraine and Gaza. He noted Amodei’s caution about the dangers of AI, insisting it’s crucial to stay alert.
Martinón portrayed Thiel as a “reactionary libertarian” whose agendas infringe upon public welfare, prioritising technological advancements.
He warned that while AI threatens to eliminate numerous jobs, it also creates new ones, which could have economic and social ramifications. Work, he noted, is fundamental to human interaction and the liberation of women.
Just as atomic energy spurred a Cold War between the US and the former USSR, AI has sparked a new digital Cold War, particularly between the US and China, marginalising the EU in technological development. Martinón cautioned against reducing individuals to mere data or commodities, emphasising the need to regulate AI for the benefit of humanity.
He concluded with a hopeful message, urging citizens to come together to protect democracy, which remains the “only space where freedom exists.”
