Public talk: Artificial intelligence and the future of humanity

This event was held on Thursday 19 September 2019

Image credit: Dmitry Kostyukov / Wellcome Photography Prize 2019

All around us today we see computer technology developing at an accelerating pace – from Siri and chatbots, to military drones and automated cars, to robot healthcare and cybersecurity surveillance. It is clear that we are now on the brink of a revolution in artificial intelligence that will dramatically transform our world.

What does this mean for our future society and culture? Indeed, for the future of humanity?

The Centre for 21st Century Humanities has brought together a multidisciplinary panel of experts to discuss the urgent topic of artificial intelligence and how it impacts humanity. Join us at this free public talk on 19 September 2019, 4-6pm at the Hunter Room, Newcastle City Hall.  This event is free to attend. However, seats are strictly limited, so please register your attendance to ensure your place. Complimentary drinks will be served following the event.

Rosemarie Milsom, award-winning journalist and founding director of the Newcastle Writers Festival, will chair. Our speakers are:

  • Prof Nicholas Agar is a philosopher at the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. He researches the ethical implications and meanings of contemporary technologies, and has published a number of books on the subject.
  • Prof Marnie Hughes-Warrington is an historian at the Australian National University. She specialises in global history and historiography and is currently working on a project to historicise artificial intelligence.
  • Prof Duncan McDuie-Ra is an urban sociologist at the University of Newcastle, and researches urban developments of digital and networked infrastructures, especially in South Asia.
  • Prof Alex Zelinsky AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Newcastle. Australia’s former Chief Defence Scientist and co-founder of the computer vision technology company Seeing Machines, he is a renowned roboticist and systems engineer.

This event will be photographed and recorded for media and marketing purposes. Image credit: Dmitry Kostyukov / Wellcome Photography Prize 2019