Technology - Creating Unprecedented Change and Unpredictable Societal Consequences

The audience heard about the latest developments in digital technology, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Technology - Creating Unprecedented Change and Unpredictable Societal Consequences

Event report

The event, Technology — Creating Unprecedented Change and Unpredictable Societal Consequences, held last night, hosted by Rothschild, was a great success according to informal feedback and the buzz in the reception.  The setting was magnificent and the over 80 people present enjoyed the view, the presentations and discussion.

The audience heard about the latest developments in digital technology, robotics and artificial intelligence.  We were impressed by progress to date and activities under development which combine design with practical solutions, that is, design enhancing the experience of life.

Addressed were the issues related to privacy; ‘super intelligence’; military use of robotics; the role of government and of philanthropists assisting with the transition we are going through; changes in work; and how the corporate sector, government and philanthropists and others could contribute helping people have happy productive lives.

The changing role of the professions especially as it related to professional wealth advisers was described as going through a significant change.

Soon the slides from the event will be available along with a blog on the discussion. 

Many thanks to Nandu Patel and the staff at Rothschild for being such wonder host and supporter of Philanthropy Impact.

Also a very big thanks to our panel and chair for their intriguing and thought provoking presentations.  The event was chaired by Sebastian Farquhar, Director of the Global Priorities Project, Centre for Effective Altruism

The panel consisted of  Dr Nick Hawes, Reader in Autonomous Intelligent Robotics, University of Birmingham; Sebastian Conran, CEO, Consequential Robotics; Gina Miller, Founding Partner, SCM Group; Julia Unwin CBE, Chief Executive, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.