Robots Among Us

Join us for a thought-provoking debate as we grapple with the ethical implications of creating robots with self-awareness and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Will roboticists become the architects of a new era, or are we playing with fire?

Witness a clash of ideologies as the "For" camp champions the pursuit of AGI, while the "Against" camp calls for restraint and advocates for robots as utilitarian tools.

The audience will be live polled at various times over the course of the debate through an online poll to gauge the changing sentiment throughout the discussion.

Introducing Pepper: A Robot Advocating for AGI

Pepper, a metaphorical representation of an AGI entity, will take centre stage at this event and present its own argument for the development of Artificial General Intelligence. Will you be convinced by Pepper's perspective?

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the future of robotics and AI, and the profound impact it will have on humanity. Have your say and shape the conversation!

Order of events:

• 6pm: Welcome
• 6:15pm: Introducing Pepper the robot (and the engineering team) and the robot's case for AGI, with audience poll
• 6:20: Panel introductions
• 6:30: Debate session 1
• 6:55: Midsession audience poll
• 7:00: Debate session 2
• 7:55: End of session audience poll
• 8:00: Audience Q&A
• 8:20: Final Poll and conclusion

Panellists:

• Jen Webb is Distinguished Professor of Creative Practice at the University of Canberra. Her main research interest is the relationship between what Pierre Bourdieu termed 'the field of cultural production'—the broad sphere of creative practice—and the social domain, including the political and sociocultural, the practical and the economic, the local and the global. Her current major projects investigate aspects of creativity, and creative production. 
• Zena Assaad is a senior lecturer in the School of Engineering at the Australian National University and is also a fellow with the Australian Army Research Centre. She has previously held a fellowship with Trusted Autonomous Systems. Her research explores the safety of human-machine teaming and the regulation and assurance of autonomous and AI systems in safety critical applications. 
• Ryan Payne is a senior lecturer at the University of Canberra. Ryan’s broader research focuses on how adaptive technology can disrupt current consumer behaviour literature, especially with new and emerging technology. This past year Ryan was a United Nations (UN) Delegate, Internet Society Early Career Fellow and Google mentor, for his work on privacy, consumer engagement online and emerging generative AI technology.

• Tim Bradley - Director at Robotics Australia. Robotics Australia is an industry body that committed to building a sustainable robotics industry in Australia by supporting the entire robotics ecosystem. Tim is also a Strategic Advisor with Amazon Web Services, Tim’s focus is on initiatives that build the digital economy. He has nearly two decades of experience in economic development, particularly as it relates to the innovation system. Prior to joining AWS, Tim held senior positions within the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources including the department’s inaugural General Manager with responsibility for Emerging Technologies.

  
  

Moderator: Will Grant is Associate Professor in Science Communication at the Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at ANU. He is a regular contributor to academic and news media publications and platforms alike and has held science communication workshops for a range of Australia’s leading science organisations, including Universities Australia, Science and Technology Australia and the Australian Academy of Science, as well has dozens of universities and research institutes, government departments and scientific societies around the country. 

This is a free event held by the University of Canberra Faculty of Science and Technology in partnership with Questacon as part of Research Festival 2024. Get involved and explore the full program on our website.