Professor Russ Altman, left, and Professor Emeritus Yoav Shoham are members of a study group that will take a very long-term look at artificial intelligence. The two scientists were among the participants in a event looking at artificial intelligence's social benefits at Stanford on Thursday. As artificial intelligence emerges from science fiction to everyday life, the power to shape and direct this world-changing technology remains within society's reach. That overarching theme animated a crowd of more than 300 people at a Stanford event Thursday evening. The discussion was titled, "The Future of Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Topics and Societal Benefit."