With Chris Colvin, Michael Aldous, Malte Hinrichs, Judy Stephenson and Andrew Dorman

Apparently, 66% of us are worried about the rise of AI. It seems to be inserting itself everywhere and impacts us in ways that we can't possibly anticipate. Or can we?

This in-person event featuring exciting research and hosted by a stand-up comedian, offers a chance to get ahead of the rise of AI and see what the world might look like in 20 years time. Join us in the The McGrath Suite. Lyric Theatre for an evening of conversation about innovation, technology, and how we can learn from the past to anticipate the changes that AI might bring.

AI has the potential to join a long line of "General Purpose Technologies" (GPTs) which have the power to change the world. From the steam engine to the internet, there have been dozens of these significant technological innovations throughout human history. But what happens when one is introduced? How do they impact the workforce and wider population? And should we be scared of artificial intelligence? Our panel will talk through some of the most controversial and impactful examples of these GPTs and use economic history to use the past to try to prepare for the future.

Click here to go back to the full list of NI events

This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025 and was made possible thanks to funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Chatting GPT: What does history tell us about the future of AI?