SRI Seminar Series presents cutting-edge research on the social impacts of advanced technologies
The SRI Seminar Series returns for 2024 with 12 exciting presentations exploring how data-driven technologies are changing our world, including talks on economics, law, political science, privacy, behavioural science, linguistics, and the ethics of AI. Registration for all sessions is now open.
The Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society (SRI) is pleased to announce its SRI Seminar Series programming for 2024, featuring innovative new research from leading experts on the societal impacts of advanced technologies. Seminars take place every Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:00 PM Eastern Time and are free to attend.
SRI’s 2024 seminars kick off on January 10th, with a talk by Pinar Yildirim of the University of Pennsylvania on the impacts of automation for career values and political preferences, followed by presentations from Elizabeth Joh (University of California Davis), Lynette H. Ong (University of Toronto), Dylan Hadfield-Menell (MIT), Norman Sadeh (Carnegie Mellon), Jon Kleinberg (Cornell), Vincent Conitzer (Carnegie Mellon), Rohan Alexander (U of T), Marlène Koffi (U of T), Iason Gabriel (Google DeepMind), Ann Copestake (University of Cambridge), and Luciano Floridi (Yale University). Registration for all sessions is now open.
Sparking new ideas and approaches
The SRI Seminar Series provides a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge research from a wide range of fields on how the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven systems are impacting society. From ethics to engineering, law, computer science, and more, SRI Seminars offer a wide range of perspectives into new ideas and approaches, building bridges across disciplines.
“SRI’s Seminar Series has emerged as one of the Institute’s signature events, bringing together a vibrant community of researchers from different disciplines at the University of Toronto and beyond,” observes SRI Research Lead Nisarg Shah, an associate professor in U of T’s Department of Computer Science who will moderate the winter sessions. “By exploring how powerful data-driven technologies like AI are changing our world through a wide range of fields, including interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches, these presentations will inspire and engage everyone, from advanced scholars to those just beginning to learn about these topics.”
Now in its fourth season, the series has established itself as a key convenor for the Schwartz Reisman Institute community, welcoming a worldwide audience of more than 2500 participants to date. Seminar recordings are posted to SRI’s YouTube channel, serving as a valuable resource for researchers, educators, and students.
Top left to bottom right: Seminar guests Pinar Yildirim (University of Pennsylvania), Elizabeth Joh (University of California), Lynette H. Ong (University of Toronto), Dylan Hadfield-Menell (MIT), Norman Sadeh (Carnegie Mellon University), Jon Kleinberg (Cornell), Vincent Conitzer (CMU), Rohan Alexander (U of T), Marlène Koffi (U of T), Iason Gabriel (Google DeepMind), Ann Copestake (University of Cambridge), Luciano Floridi (Yale University).
Exploring the social impacts of advanced technologies
How are data collection methods transforming the ways we understand ourselves? What are the impacts of powerful technologies for our political systems? How can we ensure that AI systems and social networks are aligned with human goals and benefit all of society? These questions are just some of the important topics that will be explored in upcoming SRI Seminars.
The winter season kicks off with three talks on the political consequences of data-driven systems, as Pinar Yildirim (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania) examines the impacts of automation on career values and political preferences, Elizabeth Joh (University of California Davis) discusses the impacts of surveillance technologies used in policing on communities, and SRI Faculty Fellow Lynette H. Ong (University of Toronto) explores how authoritarian statecraft is transforming in the digital age.
Extending these analyses, presentations by Dylan Hadfield-Menell (MIT), Norman Sadeh (Carnegie Mellon University), Jon Kleinberg (Cornell University), and Ann Copestake (University of Cambridge) will explore how the design of technical systems can have social consequences. Well-known for his work in AI, cybersecurity, and mobile computing, Sadeh will explore practical solutions for empowering people to regain control of their data amidst pervasive data collection practices. Drawing on new research that proposes the activity of users of online platforms does not always reflect their preferences, Kleinberg will present a new method for optimizing user experience by exploring new insights for interactions between design and behavioral science. In her talk, Kopestake will explore her research in developing computer models of human language and establishing the performance of deep learning systems according to linguistic criteria.
SRI Faculty Affiliates Rohan Alexander and Marlène Koffi will also contribute talks on how data science can respectively be used to develop trustworthy approaches and support public policy initiatives.
Finally, presentations from Vincent Conitzer (Carnegie Mellon University), Iason Gabriel (Google DeepMind), and Luciano Floridi (Yale University) will explore issues pertaining to ethics and philosophy in relation to AI systems, including questions of value alignment, game theory, and the impacts of social and ethical values on policy initiatives relating to advanced technologies.
Left to right: SRI Research Lead Nisarg Shah (Department of Computer Science) and Faculty Fellow Avery Slater (Department of English) will moderate the 2024 SRI Seminar presentations.
About the SRI Seminar Series
SRI Seminars are held on a weekly basis, with each session featuring a leading or emerging researcher whose work offers new and innovative solutions regarding the impacts of technology on society.
Speakers present for 45 minutes, followed by an open discussion with participants, including SRI’s research community, specialists from other institutions, students, and the general public. Session recordings are available on SRI’s YouTube channel.
All events are free and open to the public. To participate, register now via Eventbrite.
