Navigating the Artificial Intelligence Landscape: Perspectives from National Academies

Online | September 4, 2024

Webinar co-organized by The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and WAAS from 12:00 noon to 13:30 UTC on 4 Sept, 2024

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies increasingly permeate every aspect of our lives—from healthcare and education to governance and industry—it is crucial for national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine to both understand and actively shape the trajectory of AI development and utilisation. The rapid advancement of AI not only offers transformative potential but also brings significant challenges, including ethical concerns, privacy issues, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks. National academies are uniquely positioned to address these challenges due to their authoritative standing, multidisciplinary expertise, and commitment to scientific integrity. The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and The World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) organised this webinar to explore AI activities around national academies, and perspectives on how academies could utilise their unique position to shape the development and application of AI in ways that are human-centric, prioritise ethical standards, and promote the broader application of science and technology for societal benefit. The event is recorded and summarized on the IAP website.

Format and Structure:
• Date: Wednesday, 04 September 2024.
• Time: 12:00 noon – 13:30 PM UTC/GMT; 8:00 – 9:30 AM EST.
• Platform: Virtual on Zoom.
• Duration: 90 minutes.

Agenda:

  • Introduction: Moderator, Phoebe Koundouri, Trustee, WAAS and Member, IAP Capacity Building Committee
  • Opening Remarks: Garry Jacobs, President & CEO, WAAS
  • Moderated Panel Discussion
  • Moderated Open Discussion with the audience
  • Closing Remarks: Peter McGrath, Coordinator, IAP

Speakers:

  • Phoebe Koundouri, Trustee, WAAS and Member, IAP Capacity Building Committee
  • Garry Jacobs, President & CEO, WAAS
  • Jerome Glenn, Co-founder & CEO, The Millennium Project
  • Ricardo A. Baeza-Yates, Chilean Academy of Sciences; Chilean Academy of Engineering; Professor, Institute for Experiential AI, Northeastern University
  • Susan Veldsman, Director, Scholarly Publication Programme, Academy of Science of South Africa (tbc)