“WHAT DOES AI MEAN FOR RESEARCH, FOR SOCIETY AND FOR CITIZENS”

Renowned experts  at the University of Cardiff from Europe and the UK will be discussing how  Artificial Intelligence has the potential to transform the world we live in and the risks for not using it with with fairness, transparency and reliability 

Summary:

• The 2nd Open Forum on Democratic Backsliding organised by the EU-funded project  CONNECTS-UK will take place at the University of Cardiff  with the support of Academia Europaea Cardiff on the 20^th November  at 12:00 pm local time and on-line at 13:15.
• CONNECTS-UK is the new pan-European project aimed at fostering scientific collaborations between the EU and the UK, led by the community of European researchers working in the UK.

Cardiff, 18 November 2024 – Leading experts in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will gather at the University of Cardiff on 20 November to explore how AI could transform society—and the potential risks of its misuse. The 2nd Open Forum on Democratic Backsliding, organized by the EU-funded CONNECTS-UK project, will examine the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, including its ethical implications, legal frameworks, and impact on global scientific innovation.

The forum, which will be held at 12:00 pm local time at the University of Cardiff and streamed online at 13:15, is the latest event in a series hosted by CONNECTS-UK, a pan-European initiative aimed at fostering scientific collaboration between the EU and the UK. The forum is also supported by Academia Europaea Cardiff.

The timing of the forum is particularly significant, following the recent recognition of AI’s groundbreaking contributions to science. This year, the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry were awarded to researchers whose work has been instrumental in advancing AI-driven technologies. Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield received the Nobel Prize in Physics for their contributions to machine learning, while Demis Hassabis, David Baker, and John M. Jumper were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work in computational protein design. These accolades mark a major milestone in AI’s acceptance as a transformative force for humanity.

The forum will open with introductory remarks from Ole H. Petersen, Director of the Academia Europaea Hub, who will set the stage with a presentation on “AI: The New Frontier.”

Professor Jas Pal Badyal, Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales will highlight the priorities for Wales in science, research and innovation.

Brando Bonifei, Member of the European Parliament and co-Rapporteur of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act, will speak remotely about the new regulations aimed at ensuring AI systems are developed and deployed in ways that uphold fundamental rights, safety, and ethical standards. He will also address the potential risks of powerful AI models and the need for robust oversight.Niek Buurma, Senior Lecturer in Physical Organic Chemistry at Cardiff University, will represent CONNECTS-UK and will introduce its goals.. 

Keynote speaker Teemu Roos, Leader of the AI Education Programme at the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence, will explore how AI-powered statistical models are revolutionizing scientific research, from improving diagnostic tools to enhancing predictive capabilities in various disciplines.

The forum will also feature discussions on the broader political and economic implications of AI. Cecilia Rikap, an expert in the unequal distribution of knowledge, will present on the “Political Economy of AI: By Whom, For What, and For Whom?” examining the power dynamics shaping AI’s development and deployment.

Peter Flach, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bristol, will tackle the question of whether generative AI is a tool or a threat to academic research. Flach’s insights will address the challenges and ethical dilemmas surrounding AI’s use in knowledge creation.

Qingxiu Bu, Associate Professor at the University of Sussex, will focus on the legal frameworks needed to ensure AI is applied with transparency, fairness, and respect for fundamental rights. His talk will address how legal systems can support the ethical use of AI in various sectors.

Marco Palombo, a leading researcher in AI applications in healthcare, will present on “Towards Democratized and Sustainable Medical Imaging through AI.” Palombo’s work aims to use AI to make high-quality diagnostic tools accessible to underserved populations, improving healthcare outcomes and reducing disparities in medical imaging.

Finally, Gonzalo Parra, an expert in computational biophysics, will discuss how AI is being used to answer complex questions in biomedicine, focusing on protein research and its implications for healthcare.

The event is co-sponsored by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and the Embassy of the Netherlands in the UK, with leadership from the Dutch Network of Academics in the UK (Dna in UK).

The discussions at the forum will be vital for understanding the evolving role of AI in scientific, political, and societal contexts, particularly as governments and institutions navigate the ethical, legal, and economic challenges posed by these rapidly advancing technologies.

Further details on the CONNECTS-UK website and its social media  Twitter page, Linkedin, Facebook 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Anna Fumarola

Project Manager CONNECTS-UK

project.manager@connects-uk.org

About CONNECTS-UK:

CONNECTS-UK stands for ‘Connecting European Communities Through Science in the UK’ and is a pioneering pan-EU project co-funded by the European Union that aims to advance scientific collaborations between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) in the post-Brexit context. The initiative brings together scientific diasporas from Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain, and the non-profit organisation, Native Scientists, to foster cross-border research, promote knowledge exchange, and drive innovation. CONNECTS-UK serves as a catalyst for groundbreaking scientific collaborations and partnerships in diverse fields of study. The EU funding of around half a million euros not only reflects its commitment to advancing scientific progress but also underscores the importance of maintaining robust research ties between the EU and the UK despite the challenges posed by Brexit.

By creating a robust framework for cross-border collaboration, CONNECTS-UK will enable scientists, researchers, and innovators to overcome the barriers created by Brexit and tap into the vast wealth of expertise and resources available in both the EU and the UK to jointly tackle pressing global challenges. 

CONNECTS-UK is a partnership, open to new collaborators, between

• Association of Italian Scientists in the UK (AISUK)
• Dutch Academic Network in the UK (DANinUK)
• Finnish Science Society in the UK
• French Education and Research Network UK (FERN-UK)
• Native Scientists
• Polonium Foundation
• Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the UK (PARSUK)
• Society of Spanish Researchers in the UK (SRUK/CERU)
• Association of Slovens Educated (VTIS)