Talk Abstract
Artificial intelligence is everywhere. Yet fresher thinking is needed about how it is being practically used. Many believe it will kill jobs and destroy humanity; that it dumbs-down life and we need to protect personal data. But the opposite case can be made for these concerns. AI will liberate people from tedious jobs and create new ones. It enables us understand the world closer to its true complexity. Rather than prevent data sharing, there is a moral obligation to use it, and AI may help humanity face its biggest challenges. Though naysayers and extremists grab the headlines, the reality is that the technology will transform society in beneficial ways that deserve to be better understood.
Biography
Kenneth Cukier is Senior Editor for Digital at The Economist, following two decades as a foreign correspondent. He is co-author of “Big Data,” a NYT Bestseller translated into over 20 languages. He has written extensively on machine-learning and AI, and is a regular commentator in the media, notably NPR, CNN and BBC. He is a trustee of Chatham House and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Kenneth is writing a new book on artificial intelligence and business.