Spotlight Suffolk Event debates future of AI


Date
21 September 2023
Time to read
3 minute read
Panellists for the Spotlight Suffolk event speaking into microphones and seated behind a desk
The Spotlight Suffolk panel

The benefits and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI) were debated by a panel of industry experts at an event hosted by the University of Suffolk, in partnership with Tech East, as part of a topical series on Suffolk.

The discussion is part of the Spotlight Suffolk series which explore topical issues and how they might impact the region.

This month’s event, held at The Hold on Wednesday evening, was called ‘AI Friend or Foe?’ and was chaired by Tech East’s Chief Operating Officer, Tim Robinson.

He welcomed an expert panel featuring Lisa Perkins, Director of Adastral Park, Research and Innovation; Neil Miles, Serial Entrepreneur, Inawisdom, Smart421; Corky Balch, Getty Images, Shutterstock and UK Government’s IP Office and Kate Walker, who has 21 years of experience in the NHS locally and is an ethics champion.

The panel debated the impact and disruption that artificial intelligence can have on different sectors such as healthcare, law and finance. It also explored how the future may embrace artificial intelligence and how automation may change the face of business, education and even how society interacts.

Audience members were also able to put their questions to the panel, including questions on the ethics of using AI, experience with customer service chatbots and the danger of deepfakes.

Professor Gurpreet Jagpal, Pro Vice-Chancellor Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Suffolk said:

“We are only just scratching the surface of the impact of artificial intelligence on the way we work, learn and interact with each other.

“As the technology evolves, the applications of AI could create huge benefits – but at what level of disruption?

“The Spotlight Suffolk series of discussions are about highly topical issues that are affecting society, both in the world of education but much further afield in society and industry as well.

“We are really pleased as the university is a great space to host these kinds of discussions, so please do keep an eye out for future Spotlight Suffolk events and we hope to see you at one of those in the future.”

An audience member at the Spotlight Suffolk AI event
An audience member at the Spotlight Suffolk AI event
The panelists for the Spotlight Suffolk AI event in The Hold lecture theatre
The Spotlight Suffolk panel.
An audience member at the Spotlight Sufolk event holding a microphone and asking a question to the panel
An audience member asks a question to the panel
The panel for the Spotlight Suffolk AI event
The Spotlight Suffolk panel

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