The Alan Turing Institute’s flagship lecture series, the Turing Lectures, returns this year to focus on key issues related to deepfakes, trustworthy AI and the future of democracy.
As AI technology advances rapidly, questions about its role in shaping democratic processes, our ability to trust the technology as well as understanding and mitigating against its biases have become even more important.
The 2024 Turing Lectures, titled “In AI we trust…?”, will tackle these issues with leading experts across three evenings. The series is being held in partnership with the Knowledge Quarter - a consortium of over 100 academic, cultural, research, scientific and media organisations within a one mile radius of King’s Cross dedicated to advancing and sharing knowledge.
Dr Jonathan Bright, head of online safety at The Alan Turing Institute will deliver the first lecture on September 26. He will discuss how political campaigns are making use of AI and the challenges posed by deepfakes. He will also talk about fact-checking, content moderation and why it's so important to approach the media we consume in the digital age with a healthy amount of scepticism.
Dr Abeba Birhane, Senior Fellow in Trustworthy AI at Mozilla Foundation, will give the second lecture on October 14 which focuses on the influence of AI on crucial societal decisions as well on the ramifications of AI algorithms trained on biased data. She will discuss how to mitigate bias in AI to create fairer and more equitable systems in future.
Professor Shannon Vallor, Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, will close the series on December 9 with her lecture which focuses on the importance of restoring trust in people, the impact of AI on our daily lives and how AI tools can be made more reliable.
The Turing’s Dr Bright said: “As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, understanding its potential impact on democracy, its biases and its reliability for everyday use is crucial to ensure we get the most out of the technology.
“The 2024 Turing Lectures offer a unique opportunity to explore ways in which we can harness AI responsibly, which is essential for building trust and shaping the future of this important technology and we are delighted to partner with the Knowledge Quarter on this important event.”
Jodie Eastwood, CEO of Knowledge Quarter London, said: "We're thrilled to facilitate an accessible and public dialogue on the vital topic of AI literacy and are proud to support these lectures, which will unite a curious and diverse audience from our vibrant community together with The Alan Turing Institute, a longstanding and valued member of the Knowledge Quarter."
The lectures will be held at King’s Place, an award-winning, multi-arts venue and registered charity, situated along the Regent’s Canal in the heart of the Knowledge Quarter.
