Why we should stop a robotic arms race

Will artificial intelligence (AI) end jobs, wars or humanity? This is the question that Professor Toby Walsh, an AI expert from the University of New South Wales, will address in a special lecture offered by UCT’s Centre for Extra-Mural Studies.

Walsh will be in Cape Town for the 15th International Conference on Principles of Knowledge Representation and Reasoning. The conference brings together international AI experts at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 25 to 29 April 2016.

Walsh leads a research group at Data61, Australia’s Centre of Excellence for ICT Research, and regularly gives talks on the impact of AI and robotics. Among his most recent appearances was this TEDx talk. He also co-signed an open letter predicting that AI could transform warfare and lead to an arms race of “killer robots”.

The lecture is on Tuesday 26 April from 18:30 to 19:30 in Lecture Theatre 1 in the Kramer Law Building.

Tickets will be available at the door (R84 for the public and R42 for UCT staff and students).