Renowned scientists and leading figures in artificial intelligence gathered in Washington, D.C. At the symposium Advancing the Frontiers of AI Research they explored the ethical implications and practical applications of artificial intelligence.
This was the first event of the newly established Alma Mater Artificial Intelligence Center (Alma Mater AI Center), based in Vienna. The event enabled an in-depth discussion on the ethics of artificial intelligence, its governance, and new trends.
The symposium was moderated by Zelalem Abahana and Youssef Jarachi, doctoral candidates in the Applied Artificial Intelligence doctoral program at Alma Mater.
The first roundtable was led by Prof. Ivan Bratko, a world-renowned pioneer of artificial intelligence, who presented an overview of the ethical aspects of artificial intelligence. Prof. James Brusseau presented The Freedom Recommendation, an insightful analysis of AI-driven decision-making.
The key ethical challenges of large language models were addressed by Dr. Uday Kamath, while Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo, with her presentation Broadening Perspectives on African Governance in the Era of AI, highlighted African perspectives on governance in the age of artificial intelligence.
Within the framework of practical applications of artificial intelligence, Prof. Nathalia Nascimento presented Generative Artificial Intelligence in Practice: Insights from Software Engineering and Data Science. Then Prof. Janusz Wojtusiak, with the presentation A View on Selected Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, illuminated the role of AI in medical innovations.
Machine learning and superintelligence were the central themes of the second roundtable. Prof. Carlotta Domeniconi explored machine learning on graph and textual data, while Prof. Matjaž Gams led the session Topics on Superintelligence, which sparked a discussion on the future direction of AI development.
In the discussion, Prof. Jurij Toplak, who also led the event, expressed concern about the collection and sharing of private data by artificial intelligence, including data of minors. Prof. Matej Mertik, head of the doctoral program and computer science study programs at Alma Mater Europaea University, summarized global trends in the field of artificial intelligence.
The majority of conference participants believed that artificial intelligence will cause job losses in the short term, but the labor market will adapt by creating new opportunities, demands for new skills, and a shift towards professions based on human creativity, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.
The event highlighted the ongoing ethical and practical challenges of artificial intelligence and encouraged meaningful discussions among experts. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions and strengthened the global commitment to responsible AI development.
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The Alma Mater AI Center is a leading research center dedicated to the ethical, social, and practical aspects of artificial intelligence. Based in Vienna, it brings together 30 leading AI experts from across Europe and offers a unique doctoral program in applied artificial intelligence. With a focus on interdisciplinary research, the center studies the impact of AI on law, healthcare, economy, and governance, and promotes collaboration among academia, industry, and policymakers. Through various initiatives, the Alma Mater AI Center strives to shape the responsible development and use of AI technologies and ensure they benefit society as a whole.
At Alma Mater Europaea University, we are developing the future of artificial intelligence – ethical, interdisciplinary, and global. Join the only doctoral program in the region that connects AI, law, healthcare, management, and economics.
