On 19/01/2015 20:47, "BioCentre Matt James" <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>** Apologies for any cross posting **
>
>BioCentre invites you to a panel discussion:
>
>****************************************
>
>ARE ROBOTS REALLY AFTER OUR JOBS?
>
>Tuesday 3rd February 2015, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
>University College London, Gower Street
>
>****************************************
>
>The vision of artificial intelligence (AI) and robots 'taking over the
>world' has tended to be the mainstay of science fiction plots. However,
>significant advances in AI mean that certain visions of the future could
>very quickly become science reality.
>
>Within the last decade AI-driven products are beginning to be more
>prominent. Companies such as Facebook and Microsoft are hiring artificial
>intelligence researchers at an unprecedented rate.  As understanding of
>AI and deep neural networks increase,  advances in computer vision and
>speech recognition are being achieved.
>
>In parallel to these achievements, a key theme in the conversation is
>emerging concerning robots and the future of work.  A report by Pew
>Research explored the views of some two thousand experts on artificial
>intelligence (AI), robotics and economics, concerning the role of
>automation between today and 2025.  There was an almost perfect split in
>opinion: 52% predicting an optimistic path of the future, in contrast to
>48% who expressed concern and worry about the future.
>
>Some argue that robots will create more jobs than they will take over.
>Whilst others worry that their arrival in the workplace will lead to a
>break down in society.  To give just one example, as Google's work on
>self-driving cars continues to develop, it is not difficult to see that
>the next big thing could be automated driving, threatening the work of
>many taxi drivers, lorry drivers and others employed in transportation.
>
>At the end of 2014 Professor Stephen Hawking said that the development of
>full artificial intelligence could in fact spell the end of the human
>race.  Similarly, Elon Musk, the entrepreneur behind Space-X, warned of
>the risk of 'something seriously dangerous happening' as a result of
>machines with artificial intelligence, could be in as few as five years.
>
>Amongst the various perspectives on the future, there appears to be at
>least one common area of agreement:  over the next decade robots and AI
>will continue to increase and advance, leading to at least some degree of
>displacement of work by robots. This warrants serious engagement with
>what the future might hold.  The challenge is to start thinking through
>the opportunities, challenges and consequences of these advances in AI
>and robotics and start engaging in some of the questions which arise
>including: 
>
>> How do we harness the benefits whilst mitigating the risks of a robot
>>workforce?
>> How might advances in robotics help to create new jobs and increase the
>>value of work that requires uniquely human skills and capabilities?
>> What will be done with the large number of people who do not have the
>>necessary skills for non-mechanised jobs?
>> What would it mean to be human in a world without work?
> 
>Join us for what promises to be a thought provoking discussion as we
>begin to tackle the questions surrounding the future of work and humanity.
>
>Guest speakers include:
>> Dr. ANDERS SAND-BERG James Martin Fellow, Oxford Martin Programme on
>>the Impacts of Future Technology
>> PROF NIGEL CAMERON, CEO of Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies
>>(C-PET)
>> Representative from The Work Foundation (TBC)
>
>
>The event is FREE to attend but registration is required. To register
>please visit: 
>http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/are-robots-really-after-our-jobs-tickets-154
>00371927 
>
>
>BioCentre is pleased to be partnering with UCL's Science, Medicine and
>Science (SMS) Network for this event, of which BioCentre is a
>contributor. 
>**************************************************************************
>**********
>Distributed through Cyber-Society-Live [CSL]: CSL is a moderated
>discussion
>list made up of people who are interested in the interdisciplinary
>academic
>study of Cyber Society in all its manifestations.To join the list please
>visit:
>http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/cyber-society-live.html
>**************************************************************************
>***********

************************************************************************************
Distributed through Cyber-Society-Live [CSL]: CSL is a moderated discussion
list made up of people who are interested in the interdisciplinary academic
study of Cyber Society in all its manifestations.To join the list please visit:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/cyber-society-live.html
*************************************************************************************