In a world where AI seems to be taking over more and more human tasks, while placing ever greater demands on our environment, Shannon Vallor asks a crucial question in the final lecture in this series: can we live with AI, and what do we need to be able to do so harmoniously?

This thought-provoking talk will challenge your assumptions about AI and its role in our lives, as we unpack its impact on our daily lives and what this means for humanity.

Shannon Vallor will explore how AI has become woven into the fabric of our daily existence, where it excels and where it falls short. But she’ll also remind us how AI is only as good as the data it is trained on, and the ramifications this could have for those subject to its power.

This talk aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of AI’s strengths and limitations; of the values and knowledge embedded in it, and the nature of human responsibility for decisions made with it. You’ll be better equipped to decide when to leverage AI tools and when to rely on human insight. No matter your background, this discussion will be provocative and insightful.

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

About the speaker:

Prof. Shannon Vallor is the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) at the University of Edinburgh, where she is also appointed in Philosophy. She directs the Centre for Technomoral Futures in EFI, and is co-Director of the UKRI’s BRAID (Bridging Responsible AI Divides) programme.

Professor Vallor’s research explores how AI, robotics, and data science reshape human character, habits, and practices. Her work includes advising policymakers and industry on the ethical design and use of AI, and she is a former Visiting Researcher and AI Ethicist at Google. She is the author of Technology and the Virtues: A Philosophical Guide to a Future Worth Wanting (Oxford University Press, 2016) and The AI Mirror: Reclaiming Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking (Oxford University Press, 2024).

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.