lighting, Diplomacy

European Future Talks 2024: Artificial Intelligence – An Ethical Challenge for Humanity

19 April 2024

Event description

Diplo’s participation: Jovan Kurbalija, director of DiploFoundation, will deliver keynote address at European Future Talks 2024 in Dublin.


European Future Talks 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – An Ethical Challenge for Humanity

19th April 2024
The Oak Room, Mansion House, Dublin


10:30 – 10:50 Words of welcome

  • Lord Mayor Daithí De Róiste
  • Christian Gsodam, European External Action Service, Founder of European Future Talks
  • Daire Keogh, President, Dublin City University
  • Othmar Karas, First Vice-President of the European Parliament (video message)

10:50 – 11:15 Keynote speech, presentation of questions

  • Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of DiploFoundation, Geneva (keynote)
  • Philip McDonagh, Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations, and Ashwini Mathur, Onesto Consulting

11:15 – 12:15: Panel Discussion 1: The purposes of the AI Act, AI and security, AI and the information environment, AI and structural bias

Chair: Larry O’Connell, Director, National Economic and Social Council

  • Axel Voss, MEP (online), rapporteur, AI Act
  • Christian Gsodam, EEAS Advisor for Strategic Communication/Foresight
  • Abeba Birhane, Trinity College Dublin
  • Jane Suiter, Professor, Dublin City University
  • Catherine Prasifka, Writer-in-Residence, Trinity College6)
  • Archbishop Michael Jackson, Chair, Dublin City Interfaith Forum
  • Comments from the floor, led by Professor William O’Connor, University of Limerick, and Professor Stephen Williams, Queen’s University Belfast

12:15 Introduction to the Insight Centre for Data Analytics

  • Noel O’Connor, Professor DCU, Insight SFI Centre for Data Analytics

12:25 Initial real-time feedback, using an app (facilitated by Chris Chapman, Facilitator, Burren College of Art)

13:30 – 14:15 Words of welcome in relation to the dialogue with churches and faith communities and overview of the state of the debate on AI

  • Seán Ó Fearghail, Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) of Dáil Éireann
  • Anja Kaspersen (on-line), Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs and Special Advisor at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • Vincent Depaigne (on-line), DG Justice (JUST), European Commission

14:15 – 15:15 Panel Discussion 2: AI and the world of work, with reference to employment, productivity, education, and equality

Chair: Noelle O’Connell, CEO, European Movement, Ireland

  • Molly Newell, TASC (Think-tank for Action on Social Change)
  • Kieran McCorry, National Technology Officer, Microso
  • Susan Leavy, Assistant Professor, University College Dublin
  • Matthew O’Neill, European Movement
  • John Gilliland, Professor of Practice, Queen’s University Belfast
  • Don Andrea Ciucci, Holy See, Fondazione Renaissance
  • Comments from the floor, led by Barry Scannell, AI Law Specialist

15:15 – 16:45 Round tables
There will be six round tables, each with a facilitator. Round tables will consider in turn (i) their allocated area of focus, (ii) other challenges, and (iii) the potential contribution of churches, faith communities, and philosophical organisations. It is suggested that they divide their time into segments of 40, 30, and 20 minutes.

  • Round Table 1: area of focus, AI and education (facilitator: Martin Hawkes, Burren College of Art)
  • Round Table 2: area of focus, AI and education (facilitator: Damian Jackson, ICC)
  • Round Table 3: area of focus, AI and the world of work (facilitator: Damian Thomas, NESC)
  • Round Table 4: area of focus, AI and the world of work (facilitator: Fearghas O Béara, Secretariat of the European Parliament)
  • Round Table 5: area of focus, AI and the information environment, political and social (facilitator: Gary Carville, Commission for Social Issues & International Affairs)
  • Round Table 6: area of focus, AI and the information environment, political and social (facilitator: Patrick O’Donnell, Onesto Consulting)


17:00 – 17:45 Final plenary

Co-Chairs: Philip McDonagh, Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations, and Ashwini Mathur, Onesto Consulting

Brief reports from the round tables

Further real-time feedback from participants (Chris Chapman, using an app)