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Washington DC, 8 February 2025 – Renowned scholars and industry leaders in artificial intelligence convened in Washington DC.
In the symposium 'Advancing the Frontiers of AI Research' to explore the ethical implications and practical applications of AI.
This was the first event of the newly established Alma Mater AI Center. It is based in Vienna and part of the Alma Mater Vienna, an Austrian arm of the Alma Mater Europaea University. The event provided a comprehensive discussion on AI ethics, governance, and emerging trends.
The symposium, held at Belmont Country Club in Ashburn, Virginia, was moderated by Zelalem Abahana and Youssef Jarachi, doctoral candidates in the AMEU's PhD program in Applied Artificial Intelligence.
The first session, led by Prof. Ivan Bratko, a globally recognized AI pioneer, focused on a Review on the Ethical Aspects of AI. Prof. James Brusseau presented The Freedom Recommendation, an insightful analysis of AI-driven decision-making.
Key ethical challenges in large language models were discussed by Dr. Uday Kamath, while Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo provided a thought-provoking presentation on Broadening Perspectives on African Governance in the Era of AI.
On practical applications of AI, with Prof. Nathalia Nascimento presented Generative AI in Practice: Insights from Software Engineering and Data Science. Prof. Janusz Wojtusiak followed with A View on Selected Applications of AI in Health, shedding light on AI’s role in medical advancements.
Machine learning and superintelligence were key topics of the second roundtable. Prof. Carlotta Domeniconi explored Machine Learning on Graph and Text Data, while Prof. Matjaž Gams led a session on Topics on Superintelligence, sparking debate on the future trajectory of AI capabilities. The symposium concluded with insights from Prof. Vasant Honavar, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in AI research.
In the discussion, Prof. Jurij Toplak, who also opened the event, expressed concern with AI collecting and sharing people's private data, including those of children. Prof. Matej Mertik, Head of the PhD program and IT study programs at Alma Mater Europaea University, summarized global AI trends.
Most conference participants were of the opinion that AI will result in job losses in the short term, but the job market will adapt by creating new opportunities, requiring workers to develop new skills, and shifting towards roles that emphasize human creativity, critical thinking, and interpersonal interaction.
This event highlighted the ongoing ethical and practical challenges of artificial intelligence while fostering meaningful dialogue among experts. Participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions, strengthening the global commitment to responsible AI development.
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Artificial Intelligence Center - Alma Mater Europaea, known as the Alma Mater AI Center, is a pioneering research hub dedicated to the ethical, societal, and applied aspects of artificial intelligence. Based in Vienna, the center brings together 30 leading AI experts from across Europe and offers a unique PhD program in Applied AI. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research, the center explores AI’s impact on law, healthcare, business, and governance while fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers. Through its initiatives, the Alma Mater AI Center aims to shape the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring they benefit society as a whole.