Caring for the human brain in the age of AI: A transatlantic conference on neuroethics
Transatlantic collaboration informs and improves AI ethics & neuroethics. Photo: Google DeepMind on Unsplash.
17-18 November, Uppsala University’s Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics (CRB) is co-organising a conference with two Chilean universities in Santiago, Chile. Titled Diálogo Internacional sobre Neuroética e Inteligencia Artificial: La Inteligencia Artificial al cuidado del Cerebro Humano, the conference will span two university campuses in central Santiago, with CRB's Kathinka Evers and Manuel Guerrero at the fore.
Kathinka Evers leads the Centre's work on neuroethics & philosophy
Artificial intelligence will not affect all people equally. Understanding disparities and addressing them early is crucial to prevent harm and promote equitable technology development. The conference in Chile is part of the internationalisation efforts of neuroethics and philosophy activities at the Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics.
Through Manuel Guerrero, the Centre already has a well-established, close collaboration with conference co-organiser Department of Bioethics and Medical Humanities at the University of Chile. Adding collaborator Pontifical Catholic University of Chile strengthens the cross-Atlantic collaboration even further.
In relation to the conference, Kathinka Evers, who leads the Centre's work on neuroethics & philosohpy, and Manuel Guerrero will hold working meetings with university authorities to formalise a collaboration agreement aimed at jointly applying to the Chile-Sweden academic exchange platform (ACCESS). The goal is to, through Uppsala University’s ACCESS membership, advance the fields of neuroethics and AI ethics in Chile and connect Swedish and Chilean academics that conduct research in these areas for the design and implementation of joint postgraduate courses.
“AI is increasingly involved in healthcare, cognitive assessment, brain-machine interfaces, and decision-making that affects vulnerable groups. Ethical questions about these technologies don’t fit neatly inside national borders. By bringing Swedish and Chilean institutions together, the conference and our continued collaboration strengthens an international approach to questions that affect everyone,” says Kathinka Evers, who is currently preparing for her master class Artificial Consciousness – Neuroethical Perspectives on 18 November.
About Diálogo Internacional sobre Neuroética e Inteligencia Artificial: La Inteligencia Artificial al cuidado del Cerebro Humano
Starting on November 17, the Philosophy Auditorium at the San Juaquín Campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile opens up for a roundtable. Kathinka Evers and Manuel Guerrero will take a seat alongside Argentine neuroethicist Abel Wajnerman to cover three important topics: artificial intelligence and how it will affect older adults, vulnerable populations and childcare.
On 18 November, Kathinka Evers takes the stage in the auditorium of the Department of Bioethics and Medical Humanities at University of Chile, Manuel Guerrero’s home base, to present a master class titled Artificial Consciousness – Neuroethical Perspectives.
