In the first lecture of the series, The Alan Turing Institute’s Head of Online Safety and AI for Public Services, Jonathan Bright, will explore how political campaigns are making use of AI and the challenges posed by deepfakes.

Jonathan Bright 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.

He will probe AI’s impact on our political world and what it might mean for the future of democracy. This talk aims to leave its audience with a better understanding of the ways in which AI could both support and undermine democracy, and the steps we can take to increase our resilience to AI generated misinformation.

This event will last approximately 2 hours, including an interval.

About the speaker:

Dr Jonathan Bright is a Fellow at the Turing Institute, where he leads teams researching the use of AI for Public Services and understanding Online Safety. Before joining the Turing he was an Associate Professor at the Oxford Internet Institute. He is a widely published author in the area of government digitalisation, artificial intelligence and online harms and safety. He is a former editor of the journal Policy & Internet.

About Turing Lectures series:

In this series we’ll explore the complex relationship between artificial intelligence and society, examining its impact on our democratic processes, decision-making systems and, crucially, trust.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, we face key questions about its role in shaping our future. From its influence on political landscapes to its potential for perpetuating societal biases, AI presents both opportunities and challenges. This lecture series aims to equip attendees with a comprehensive understanding of these issues, exploring how we can harness AI’s potential responsibly.

By exploring AI’s impact on government, decision-making processes, and our broader society, these talks will provide valuable insights for citizens, policymakers and technologists alike. The series will ultimately help guide us towards a future where AI serves as a tool for progress, without compromising the core human elements that define our societies and interpersonal relationships.

This series of Turing Lectures is presented by The Alan Turing Institute, in partnership with Knowledge Quarter.