About the Event

IWM Digital Humanism Fellowship Lecture with Toby Walsh.

Moderator: Hannes Werthner

Video

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Abstract

The AI Race: Boom or Doom?

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant possibility; it is reshaping our economy, our security, our workplaces, and our democracy in real time. In this talk, Professor Toby Walsh examines the rapid rise of AI. He will explore both the extraordinary opportunities and the significant risks posed by increasingly powerful intelligent systems. As governments race to harness AI’s economic potential while grappling with its societal consequences, critical questions demand answers: How do we ensure AI systems are safe and trustworthy? What policies are needed to protect jobs, privacy, and democratic institutions? Will AI bring boom? Or doom?

About Toby Walsh

Scientia Professor Toby Walsh is one of the world’s leading researchers in Artificial Intelligence. He is Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence at UNSW Sydney and Chief Scientist at UNSW’s AI Institute. He has previously held research positions in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland and Sweden.

Professor Walsh’s work explores the foundations and implications of AI, from automated reasoning and machine learning to the ethical and societal impacts of intelligent systems. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and has been named one of Australia’s “Top 100 Most Influential Engineers.” His research has received multiple awards and is widely cited internationally.

A passionate advocate for responsible AI, Professor Walsh has advised governments, industry, and international organisations on the safe and ethical development of artificial intelligence. He is the author of several books on AI for a general audience, including 2062: The World that AI Made and Machines Behaving Badly, which examine how AI is reshaping work, democracy, security, and daily life. His most recent book is The Shortest History of AI.

Professor Walsh is a frequent media commentator and public speaker, known for making complex technological issues accessible and engaging. His work focuses on ensuring AI systems are transparent, accountable, and aligned with human values. His advocacy on the responsible use of AI has led to him being banned from Russia indefinitely.

IWM Digital Humanism Fellowship

More information on the IWM Digital Humanism Fellowship here

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Transcript

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