The WSI invites you to a seminar with George A Tilesch.

AI: In Whose Image?

The ongoing AI revolution will far exceed the impact of any previous Grand Transformations regarding both its depth, speed, breadth, and magnitude. The currently blurred outlines necessitate an interdisciplinary approach as well as a cross-sector and cross-industry scope, to assess the ongoing shift both in the context of the present state, the near future, and the long run. In this lecture, we will try to solidify our AI definition framework, analyze the most relevant AI-influenced socio-economic as well as ethical trends and scrutinize trendsetting examples from the global "AI backstage.

AI is already here: systems of ever-increasing maturity are currently being developed by many types of actors, largely behind the scenes. AI will inevitably be constructed in the image of its creators: their logic, interests and ethical perspectives. In that regard, humanity as a whole is largely rudderless at this point in time. We are at a tipping point - right before fragmentation and proliferation become unbound - when stewardship of AI expansion has to be determined preemptively. New overarching frameworks and structures both flexible and powerful are to be built that guarantee a beneficial course for humanity's AI-driven future - none of which stand today. In this lecture, we make an attempt to systematically outline the depth of challenges and a possible framework that would surface the right means of intervention and safekeeping.

The cognitive shift brought on by AI is not to be underestimated either: we have to reframe "our thinking about our thinking" and build up new kinds of resilience on both the individual and the societal level. How we talk about AI is crucial part of that vis-a-vis the current, extremely polarizing ways of how the media influences the very nascent, fragile AI public discourse. Navigating complexity and sense-making in a world that is likely to become even more increasingly polarized in all of its aspects by the rise of #AI is the mandate of this upcoming generation of scientists.

About the Speaker

George A. Tilesch is a senior transatlantic innovation leader, acting as a conduit between the Silicon Valley & EU ecosystems. As the US Managing Partner of Innomine Group, George has an extensive cross-sector and cross-industry innovation background and deep present involvement with European entrepreneurship & innovation, providing a Silicon Valley perspective and embedding to building large-scale, complex, inter-continental innovation ecosystem-boosting programs and partnerships. His global senior executive and consulting leadership track record includes Fortune 50 Tech corporations, pioneering startups/scaleups, EU & US government institutions and global social innovation leaders at the intersection of innovation strategy, multi-stakeholder partnerships and frontier technologies. A frequent keynote speaker at major innovation conferences and a guest lecturer and mentor at multiple US and EU universities, George is also currently co-authoring a book with senior NASA leaders, on the societal impact of AI.