The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

14 May 2024  (Tue)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT)
10.00am – 11.10am (BST)

Speaker : Professor Michael Wooldridge, University of Oxford

The idea of “Artificial Intelligence” is not as novel as one might think, having developed alongside the technological advancements in the era of modern computing.  Learn about the different strands of AI that have been developed through the years, and continue to be developed today.  Consider their different characteristics, and from that, the likelihood (or unlikelihood) that different forms of AI can impact on various aspects of our lives.

16 May 2024  (Thu)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT/HKT)

Speaker : Associate Professor Boris Babic, University of Hong Kong

How does any particular piece of AI technology work? Does it operate in a well-defined or clearly understood manner, or is it ‘black box’ that nonetheless produces reliable results? Is such a distinction important – whether from a technical or an ethical point of view? Explore these questions and more in this topic.

21 May 2024  (Tue)
8.30pm – 9.40pm (SGT)
8.30am – 9.40am (EDT)

Speaker : Professor Vincent Conitzer  (Carnegie Mellon University)

Does an AI system process data and make decisions in a manner that is the same as, or at least functionally similar to, that of human being? If not, is it still possible to ensure that AI systems reflect human values and moral reasoning? Conversely, is that even important? Consider the possible reasons and justifications for having automated moral reasoning by AI.

23 May 2024  (Thu)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT)

Speaker : Professor Simon Chesterman  (NUS)

Explore the complex landscape of AI governance, acknowledging its dual nature as both an opportunity and a threat.  Delve into the intricacies of regulating AI, addressing challenges to traditional oversight, and evaluating essential regulatory frameworks in terms of timing and methods.  Assess the global impact of AI from the perspective of international law and institutions, considering participation, coherence, and collaboration of different stakeholders.

28 May 2024  (Tue)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT/HKT)

Speaker : Kwan Yee Ng, Concordia AI

The stage appears set for China and the rest of the world to increase cooperation on AI safety issues.  With the prospect of further dizzying advances in capabilities of the frontier AI models, humanity appears woefully underprepared for the potential future challenges these will pose.  It seems plausible that frontier systems will soon be able to assist in developing new biochemical weapons, exacerbate disinformation problems, and possibly even escape human control.  This topic will review the landscape of Chinese domestic governance, international governance, technical research, expert views, lab self-governance, and public opinion with regard to AI safety, and conclude with preliminary suggestions on international AI governance cooperation.

31 May 2024  (Fri)
8.00am – 9.10am (SGT)

30 May 2024  (Thu)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (PDT)

Speaker : Professor Eric Schwitzgebel, University of California, Riverside

As AI systems become more advanced and ‘human-like’, the inevitable question arises whether they should be treated more like human beings.  Explore the possible implication of granting such rights to an AI entity, including the ethical, legal and possibly emotional challenges.  Examine a future scenario where advanced AI may merit specific rights, which may be different or even exceed what we understand to be human rights.

4 June 2024  (Tue)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT)
10.00am – 11.10am (BST)

Speaker : Professor Guy Kahane, University of Oxford

Will it be possible in future to live a life entirely in virtual reality?  Embark on a thought-provoking journey questioning the richness of virtual reality compared to tangible experiences.  Immerse yourself in a discourse on “Virtual Realism” and explore the secrets to a meaningful life in the virtual realm, and then contemplate the link to life in our ‘real’ non-virtual existence.

6 June 2024  (Thu)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT)
10.00am – 11.10am (IST)

Speaker : Dr John Danaher, University of Galway

Building on a popular science fiction idea of an almost human-like synthetic being, this topic examines the possible ethical arguments, both for and against, why an AI entity should or should not be considered a human person.  When we interrogate the issue of whether such an entity can or should be considered the same, and be given the same rights, as a human being, the inevitable question arises, what does it mean to be “human”?

11 June 2024  (Tue)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT)

Speaker : Professor Joseph Sung, Nanyang Technological University

Hear first-hand from one who is eminently qualified to speak on the impact of introducing AI in medicine and healthcare – a specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology, a researcher of new medical technologies and techniques, and a leader in medical education and academia.  Explore the wide scope for AI to be introduced in the field of medicine, and consider the medico-legal, ethical and professional implications it will have on the medical profession.

13 June 2024  (Thu)
8.00pm – 9.10pm (SGT)
8.00am – 9.10am (EDT)

Speaker : Professor Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Duke University

Explore the ethical implications of using AI to predict human moral judgments across diverse fields.  Investigate a hybrid approach combining a ‘top-down’ approach based on bioethical principles with a ‘bottom-up’ approach using data-driven models, demonstrated through a pilot study on the allocation of donor kidneys for transplant.

18 June 2024  (Tue)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT)

Speaker :

Professor Julian Savulescu, National University of Singapore

Navigate the integration of personalised Large Language Models (LLMs), with emphasis on essential considerations for the future of AI in medicine and healthcare.  Explore the ‘co-creation model’ in the utilisation of AI, highlighting its potential for genuine human progress.  Investigate the capabilities of Moral AI, acting as personalised moral ‘gurus’ and assisting in ethical decision-making for individuals.

20 June 2024  (Thu)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT)
7.00pm – 8.10pm (AEST)

Speaker : Professor Jeannie Paterson, University of Melbourne

The apparent lack of transparency in how AI operates poses ethical and legal issues.  This is especially so for AI systems that interact with and directly impact consumers and the lay public, and is further compounded when it involves the health and well-being of the person.  Is it possible to have transparency in how an AI system function? Can we make transparency work in AI?

25 June 2024  (Tue)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT/CST)

Speaker : Dr Peng Liu, Zhejiang University

This lecture delves into public attitudes towards AI technology, and its acceptability by the public.  The topics discussed will encompass the complexity and measures of public attitudes, diverse factors influencing public attitudes and acceptability, and psychological theories for explaining public acceptability.

27 June 2024  (Thu)
5.00pm – 6.10pm (SGT)
10.00am – 11.00am (BST)

Speaker: Dr Brian Earp, University of Oxford

Humans are increasingly not only delegating tasks to artificial intelligence (AI), but also “collaborating” with AI to produce new outputs, which may themselves be either beneficial to society (e.g. creative artworks) or harmful to society (e.g. propaganda, disinformation).  When humans jointly create beneficial or harmful material in collaboration with AI, how should credit and blame be assigned? This topic examines credit and blame attributions for human-AI joint creations and asks how personalising AI (e.g. making a “digital twin” of oneself by fine-tuning a large language model) affects these attributions.  Different uses of personalised and non-personalised AI (e.g. for predicting patient preferences or taking consent) in medicine will be highlighted with a discussion of implications for patient autonomy.