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Wild AI and tame humans
Ethical and policy challenges for artificial intelligence and robotics
World-renowned technology expert Professor Mark Coeckelbergh brings the future of artificial intelligence (AI) sharply into focus, and provides a stark and compelling reality check on the ethics of AI.
Do the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) outweigh the potential negative effects, in the context of social responsibilities for the entire human race? Will intelligent machines soon take over, turning us into their slaves or raw materials?
In his talk, Professor Mark Coeckelbergh shifts the conversation away from science fiction fantasies about AI and into the realms of real ethical issues and urgent policy challenges for development and use of artificial intelligence and robotics in society.
Get a preview of Professor Coeckelbergh's upcoming book AI Ethics, as he draws on his experience as an ethics of robotics expert and an adviser for the European Commission.
Is AI a new instrument for capitalist exploitation? Is responsible automation in AI and robotics possible? What does AI do with our biases? How democratic is innovation in this area? And should we worry about AI robots or prioritise dealing with climate change?
Professor Coeckelbergh’s visit was funded by the Sydney Social Sciences and Humanities Advanced Research Centre (SSSHARC), Sydney Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (SIRIS) and Socio-Tech Futures Lab (STuF Lab).
This event was held on Wednesday 27 November, 2019 at the University of Sydney.
The speakers
Mark is a Belgian philosopher of technology. He is Professor of Philosophy of Media and Technology at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Vienna and President of the Society for Philosophy and Technology. He also has an affiliation as Professor of Technology and Social Responsibility at De Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom.
He is the author of several books, including Growing Moral Relations (2012), Human Being @ Risk (2013), Environmental Skill (2015), Money Machines (2015), New Romantic Cyborgs (2017) and Moved by Machines: Performance Metaphors and Philosophy of Technology (2019). He has also written many articles. He is best known for his work in philosophy of technology, robotics and ethics of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).
Julia is University Historian and Director of Sydney Social Sciences and Humanities Advanced Research Centre (SSSHARC) at the University of Sydney. She has published widely on Australian cultural and social history including the history of landscape, travel and tourism, and the history of higher education.
At the University of Sydney, the University Historian is responsible for maintaining the University’s oral history program and developing strategies to promote the University, its heritage and history to the wider community. Current projects include At War! The University of Sydney and the First World War, andSydney in Ten Questions, a series of short historical videos to be launched by SAM later in 2013. She is also co-organiser with Emeritus Professors Alan Atkinson and Geoffrey Sherington of the St Paul’s History of University Life Seminar held regularly during semester.