Robot, Grok, Cyberspace, the Metaverse: all terms originating from science fiction that now run manifest in the latest headlines from Silicon Valley.
In a world where machine learning is an everyday exponential, what are we teaching ourselves?
Join Sierra Greer, award-winning author of Annie Bot, and our expert panel of speakers to explore science fiction’s influence on modern tech culture and the role of science communication in bridging the gap between STEM and society.
This event is co-programmed by the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Arthur C. Clarke Award science fiction book of the year, named for writer, futurist, and King’s College London alum, Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
Speakers:
Sierra Greer is the 2025 winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award for UK science fiction book of the year for her novel Annie Bot. A former high school English teacher, she writes about the future from her home in rural Connecticut.
Lauren Beukes is the internationally best-selling genre-bending author of six novels, including Zoo City, winner of the Arthur C Clarke Award, and The Shining Girls, now a major AppleTV show with Elisabeth Moss. Her work, which uses high concept twists to explore current social issues, has won multiple awards and has been translated into 26 languages around the world.
Kate Devlin is Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Society in the Department of Digital Humanities at King's College London and Chair-Director of the Digital Futures Institute.
Jen Wong is Head of Programming at Science Gallery London, a space to grow new ideas across art, science and health. As a curator, producer and cultural programmer, Jen brings researchers, artists and audiences together to create meaningful encounters at the intersection of art, science and technology.
Chair: Tom Hunter, Director of the Arthur C. Clarke Award.
