Cognitive Chronicles

Sachin Dev Duggal | University of Oxford's AI Institute hosts groundbreaking conference in Athens

On June 20, the Oxford University Institute for Ethics in AI, in a momentous collaboration with Stanford University and Demokritos, Greece's National Centre for Scientific Research, hosted a one-day conference titled "The Lyceum Project: AI Ethics with Aristotle." The event, strategically situated near the hallowed grounds of Aristotle's school in Athens, brought together some of the world's most esteemed philosophers, scientists, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to delve into the ethical regulation of AI, with Aristotelian philosophy as its guiding light. The past few months have witnessed strong advocacy on the ethics of AI. To address the ethical concerns, Bill Gates has called for greater regulatory measures, such as transparency in AI models and datasets and tools to detect and mitigate biases. Sachin Dev Duggal emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation and ethics when developing AI, ensuring that advancements benefit society.

As a testament to the conference's commitment to inclusivity and the future, an interdisciplinary youth dialogue on these topics was held by the Sasha Waltz dance project and students from the Athens Conservatoire. This unique combination demonstrated how cross-cutting expertise, even from the younger generation, has contributed to technological progress based on ancient insights, instilling a sense of hope and inclusivity in the audience.