The conference Why Not to Be Afraid of Artificial Intelligence, organized by the Equllibrium Institute and CIIRC CTU on 27 November 2024, brought a number of interesting discussions on the development, applications and social impact of artificial intelligence. Participants from academia and practice focused on how AI can be used effectively while addressing its challenges.
A programme full of inspiration
After the opening by Vladimír Mařík, one of the main organizers, a series of thematic blocks began. The first block, dedicated to the current state and future of AI, was moderated by Vladimír Mařík and welcomed, for example, Jan Šedivý, who discussed the fascinating possibilities of using AI to overcome human capabilities. Among other things, Jiří Wiedermann drew attention to the energy intensity of AI, a topic that is not yet reflected at all in our country, but which ran like a red thread throughout the conference. Wiedermann also opened the sensitive topic of AI involvement for solving practical issues of state management – budgets, defence, etc.
The second session, moderated by Miroslav Svítek, presented AI applications, including industrial solutions presented by Petr Kadera and insights into the use of drones by Martin Saska. The panelists highlighted the crucial importance of quality data, especially in medicine.
The third session focused on the societal implications of AI. Miroslava Kopicová outlined how AI will affect the labour market, while Vladimír Smejkal addressed legal issues related to the European AI Act. The topic of misinformation and its prevention resonated throughout the discussion.
Main ideas and conclusions
Discussants agreed that the development of AI presents not only challenges but also opportunities. For example, according to Jan Šedivý, hallucinating language models is not an obstacle but an opportunity for new discoveries. Petr Kadera, for his part, stressed the need to build data centres in Europe so that companies are not dependent on data centres overseas. Libuše Šmuclerová presented the future of media that depends on a single metric – and that is „click.“ Ethicist David Černý also opened a controversial topic – banning disinformation websites.
Inspiration for the future
The conference confirmed that the future of AI lies in connecting technology, ethics and practical applications. Contributions and discussions highlighted the importance of continuing education and collaboration between government, academia and industry.
The event showcased how AI can be an engine of innovation and a key tool for increasing productivity and solving complex problems.
Program
8.15 – 8.50 Registration, arrival of guests
8.50 – 9.00 Opening Opening remarks: Vladimír Mařík
9.00 – 9.50 Session 1: Current state and future of AI in the world and in our country Moderated by: Vladimír Mařík
Lecturer.
9.50 – 10.40 Session 2: Applications of AI Moderated by: Miroslav Svítek
Speakers: Petr Kadera: New applications of AI in industrial production Martin Saska: The state of AI from the perspective of flying robots Other panellists: Lenka Lhotská, Karel Košnar, Olga Štěpánková
10.40 – 11.10 Coffee break
11.10 – 12.00 Session 3: Social impacts of AI with emphasis on misinformation and the labour market Moderated by: Michal Trčka
Speaker: Miroslava Kopicová: AI will affect the labour market Vladimír Smejkal: The European Act on AI and the law Other panellists: David Černý, Libuše Šmuclerová
12.00 – 12.50 Block 4: Speech and Language Technologies Moderated by: Jan Hajič
Speakers: Martin Fajčík: Evaluation of large-scale language models BenCzechMark Ondřej Bojar: How machine translation technology has taken over the world Other panellists: Josef Psutka, Jan Šedivý
The book by Vladimír Mařík, Michal Trčka, David Černý et al. can be purchased for example HERE.
