What changes can artificial intelligence (AI) bring to society? How will people’s relationship with technology change? Could AI replace or surpass human tasks? If AI does most of the “useful work,” what will humanity’s role be? These are some of the questions that will be at the center of the INESC TEC (Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science) Autumn Forum.
In the 10th edition of the event, which coincides with the institute’s 40th anniversary, the discussion turns to the future and potential of AI, but also to its implications and challenges it poses to society. It is from a plural point of view, with perspectives that come to us from various areas, such as philosophy, psychology, engineering and technology, that the theme – “Being Human in the age of AI: Identity, Ethics, and Society in a technological world” – seeks to answer several questions (in addition to those listed above).
“Artificial intelligence has a distinctive characteristic of being able to share decision-making and creation with us, which are human activities, with a very strong human component. There is something different about AI as a technology, which really requires a lot of reflection before accelerating”, says João Claro, president of the board of directors of INESC TEC. Hence, collaboration between Portugal and Europe in developments in this technological field is fundamental, he believes: “The technology and innovation challenges that the world and Europe face are very big and for which we cannot leave anyone out.”
is Portugal’s position on a global list regarding the adoption rate of AI tools, according to the most recent Microsoft study
In science, for example, the impacts are already “huge”. “AI tools are starting to have a place in the various activities we do: from better understanding the knowledge that already exists to helping us explore, raise hypotheses, automate experiments we carry out. At all stages, in all tasks of the research process itself – and the same happens in the area of innovation and creation –, [a IA] begins to play an interesting and enriching role”, highlights the university professor.
On the psychology side, the roles are reversed. According to Mário Boto Ferreira, professor at the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Lisbon, behavioral science can become an ally in improving AI itself. “What, at the moment, seems to be missing from artificial intelligence is the ability to think about our own thoughts, which is something that characterizes human intelligence. It is our flexibility in being able to adapt our strategies and even our cognitive effort to the tasks at hand.” In this way, he explains, “the AI models that exist now would be prevented from spending too much time on sometimes simple problems, giving up too soon on more complex problems, for which more perseverance is needed.”
On the other hand, also in this field of knowledge, artificial intelligence is welcome to develop new projects, such as the one in which Mário Ferreira participates – SmartHealth. The objective is to create interfaces for health professionals and, in a second phase, for the population, to improve communication between them and public health services. “Our concerns on the behavioral sciences side are related to the acceptance or rejection that healthcare professionals may have of these mechanisms. Our approach has been to think about what are the basic psychological needs that seem to be universal and that have to be taken into account when we want to include AI agents.”
Cultivating creativity and critical thinking is perhaps “the last stronghold that can continue to distinguish humans”, according to Sofia Miguens
Thinking further, and questioning whether it is possible that new technologies can replace people in cognitive or emotional tasks, Sofia Miguens, philosophy professor and researcher at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto, responds that, in fact, they have already replaced them in some aspects. “The question is how we are dealing with this, with our tasks that were, par excellence, creative tasks. At this point, the option is between incorporating or not incorporating [a IA]. But, as has happened throughout the history of technology and humans, the reaction ends up separating us from what, around us, is already being used extensively.”
It is a reality that will inevitably bring new challenges at different levels, including the training of the next generations. “Right now, people have more Internet than universities. They will seek more knowledge there, on the internet, wherever it is, and this completely changes the processes”, believes Sofia, for those who cultivate creativity and critical thinking “perhaps it is the last stronghold that can continue to distinguish humans.”
It is an event with the theme “Being Human in the age of AI: Identity, Ethics, and Society in a technological world” and which aims to discuss the future and potential of AI, as well as its implications and challenges it poses to society. And at the center of the debate, perspectives come from various areas, such as philosophy, psychology, engineering and technology.
When, where and at what time?
The international forum will take place on November 17th at Casa da Música, in Porto, between 2pm and 6:30pm.
- João Claro, president of the board of directors of INESC TEC
- Marzieh Fadaee, director of Cohere Labs, a technology company focused on AI
- Gitta Kutyniok, professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and co-founder of the startup EcoLogic Computing
- Arlindo Oliveira, president of INESC and professor at Instituto Superior Técnico
- Sofia Miguens, professor of philosophy at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto
- Mário Boto Ferreira, professor at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Lisbon and director of CICPSI (The Research Center for Psychological Science)
- Mário Figueiredo, professor at Instituto Superior Técnico
- José Carlos Príncipe, professor at the University of Florida
- Fernando Alexandre, Minister of Education, Science and Innovation
Why is this topic central?
Technology and artificial intelligence have advanced at breakneck speed, leading to significant changes in various fields of society, from politics to culture, which cause changes in the way humans relate to machines. The impacts are increasing, as are the challenges, which is why it is important to better understand the role, functioning and potential of AI.
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