Announcing... Do Robots Dream of Ethical Sheep?

Artificial Intelligence has experienced a significant surge, driven by generative image systems and expansive language models. DALL-E emerged in 2021, ChatGPT in late 2022, and since then they have been joined by a host of similar services, including those that generate videos and music. This rapid development has reignited concerns on AI safety and ethical considerations surrounding these tools. In a landscape often sensationalised by the media and influenced by vested interests, objectivity can be elusive.

Our panel will attempt to navigate the nuanced terrain shaped by these developments. Led by experts who sidestep sensationalism, we'll delve into the realms of academia and education, examining the future of student evaluation, the ethical dimensions of copyright vis-à-vis AI training, the glaring biases within AI, and the ensuing implications. We'll also scrutinise the role of governments in safeguarding society from these evolving challenges. The question arises: what truly warrants concern, and how apprehensive should we be?

Our panellists will include:

Junaid Mubeen is a mathematician turned educator, writer and speaker. He is author of Mathematical Intelligence: What we have that machines don't, which examines the role of mathematics in the age of AI. Junaid has a DPhil in mathematics from Oxford and a Master's in Education from Harvard. He develops maths education initiatives with Simon Singh at parallel.org.uk. He earned fleeting fame in 2008 as a series winner of television game show Countdown.

Dr. Emily C. Collins is an interdisciplinary Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) researcher with expertise in biomimetic, therapeutic, and industrial robotics, HRI methodologies, and ethical considerations in Robotics and AI (RAI). Her research currently focuses on trustworthiness and responsibility in RAI development and deployment. She holds degrees in Philosophy, Experimental Psychology, and a PhD in Social Robotics. Dr. Collins has worked in the UK, Kenya, Japan, and the US, and currently holds a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellowship at the University of Manchester.

James Ball is an award-winning journalist, author, and political editor of The New European. He has held key roles at The Guardian, BuzzFeed UK, and TBIJ, contributing to Pulitzer-winning coverage of the Edward Snowden NSA leaks and major investigative projects. He worked with WikiLeaks on Cablegate and Iraq War Logs. A fellow at Demos, he is also chair of the UK committee of the Ethical Journalism Network. His latest book, The Other Pandemic, was published in 2023 by Bloomsbury.

Rick Owen is founding member of the Greater Manchester Skeptics In The Pub Society, and has been on the QED organising committee since the start of QED in 2011. He has worked in IT and computer software throughout his career.

The discussion promises to be a candid exploration of AI's ethical and educational footprint within the bounds of objectivity.

As with all of our panels, entrance to this session comes as part of every in-person QED ticket. Tickets are still available - pick up yours today.