Back to the Future: Putting the “I” (individual) back into A.I
Institute for Digital Culture, University of Leicester
Session 187
Revisiting Our Common Future
NOTE: THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE SESSION WITH HIGH LEVEL OF AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION BEING SOUGHT AND WELCOMED
Have your voice heard in this session........ which will be by way of an open/roving microphone method .....
The session is Chaired/facilitated by Dr Sarah Jane Fox - Institute for Digital Culture (with a few invited guests) but you, 'THE AUDIENCE' will take centre stage in this session.......
The starting point is that:
Nearly 40-years ago the Brundtlant Report spoke of ‘OUR COMMON FUTURE’ and alluded within that, technology had a role to play, in terms of being, “A mainspring of economic growth…” but also, recognised, “while this technology offers the potential for slowing the dangerously rapid consumption of finite resources, it also entails high risks, including new forms of pollution and the introduction to the planet of new variations of life forms that could change evolutionary pathways.”
Was one variant to be viewed as ‘AI?’ – remembering that as early as 1950 Alan Turing, posed the question, “can machines think?”
Key dates: to also be reflected on are 2015 - to today: 2025 - and beyond ...... into our future......
This session sets out to explore the impact of technology – including AI, and the potential change to OUR evolutionary pathway which is inherently influenced by our collective and, yet, ‘individual’ past experiences.
It sets out to 'question,' and, to act as a potential reboot mechanism, for advising and advancing on the future direction......
Food for thought to the audience - pre-session
Would we 'as an international collective community' do the same thing today? Would we take the same approach?
Are there lessons to be learnt from the past? Is the future always better than the past?
What is the impact of technology to the wider sustainability goals: does technology always aid? What is the impact to specific sectors: electric and other utility distribution networks, communication systems, and mass transportation, for example?
And, What is the impact to the individual?
RAISE YOUR QUESTIONS AND POSE YOUR THOUGHTS......
Dr Sarah Jane Fox is a skilled academic-practitioner and thought-leader, with extensive experience in Higher Education and external to it, whereby she has worked in government and consultancy roles.
Dr Fox is currently an academic at Leicester Law School, University of Leicester (UK) and is also a Co-Director for the Institute of Digital Culture.
Dr Fox specialises in law, policy and strategy. She is an internationally recognised expert-specialist in transport, particularly, air/aviation, space and road transport modes and systems (including autonomous vehicles) sustainable future use and advancing cyber-connected technologies. This includes safety/security/cybersecurity factors. Her research also includes the social acceptance of evolving technology, engagement and EDI issues.
In 2015-2016 Dr Fox achieved a highly coveted Fulbright Commission Scholarship, whereby she undertook research in the U.S. for 12-months across the areas of aviation/autonomous systems (drones) and space.
Dr Fox has presented her research at a number of international key events, including at the United Nations (UN - ITU/WSIS; OOSA; ODC) the European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe. She continues to collaborate extensively with the UN and EU and is an adviser to a technology (Europol group).
In September and October, 2024, Sarah Jane Fox took part in key policy discussions in the United Nations (ICAO) U.S. and the EU on technology risks, challenges and opportunities. In September Sarah Jane was a top-20 finalist of the United Nations SDG Game Changer Awards. This accolade honours individuals and organisations that are working towards rescuing the global goals through digital technologies and exemplifies how digital technologies can lay the groundwork for a more sustainable, inclusive and responsible future. Dr Fox’s ongoing collaborative work relates to technologies used for peaceful purposes, namely to benefits society and protect national infrastructures (from misuse): it is based on sharing policies and guidance, and it was acknowledged within the Peace Category, which relates to building peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16 and 17).
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C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
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C2. Information and communication infrastructure
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C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
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C6. Enabling environment
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-government
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-business
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-learning
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-health
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-employment
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-environment
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-agriculture
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C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-science
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C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
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C9. Media
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C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society
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C11. International and regional cooperation
This predominantly links to the following Action Lines:
C1; C2; CD5; C7; C10
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Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
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Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
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Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all
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Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
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Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
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Goal 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
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Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
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Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
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Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
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Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
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Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
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Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
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Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
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Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
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Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
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Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
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Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
