Ethical and Social Impacts

May 23-24 2024

Národní 3, room 205, Prague 1

Participation is by invitation only and the number of participants is strictly limited. If you are interested in participating, let us know via email at urban@flu.cas.cz and we will see what we can do.

Purpose:

This two-day workshop will explore the rise of artificial-intelligence (AI) kitchens and robot cooks. As the first extensive conversation on the subject, the project will map out and develop a full range of ethical and societal issues in this emerging space, looking at both benefits and risks. Because food is so fundamental, automating kitchens can have far-reaching impacts beyond the usual kinds in technology ethics:

Kitchens are often the heart of our homes, where traditions and science education are passed along to children. Restaurants and their kitchens are also the heart of our communities and culture. Automating that creative labor may impact values that society cares about, such as related to child development, family and communal relationships, gender roles, cultural and religious traditions, authenticity, nutrition and wellbeing, food safety and waste, economic vitality, agriculture, and more.

Structure:

In this workshop, we will be aided by a diverse and distinguished group of invited presenters and participants. These experts have been carefully selected from academia and industry to bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the table.

Unlike many academic workshops, this one is meant to be discussion intensive. To foster these interactions, participation is by invitation only, and we will operate under The Chatham House Rule: participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed without their expressed consent.

Participation is by invitation only and the number of participants is strictly limited. If you are interested in participating, let us know via email at urban@flu.cas.cz and we will see what we can do.

The event is co-organized by Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group at the California Polytechnic State University.

Programme:

Day 1 (Thursday, 23 May 2024)

9:30-10:00
Arrival check-in + coffee

10:00-10:45
Opening remarks and participant introductions

10:45-12:00
Intro to the technology
Presenters: Till Staude, Alan Adojaan, Charles Spence

12:00-1:00
Lunch

1:00-2:15
Individual impacts
Presenters: Daniel Story, Jennifer Jipson

2:15-2:30
Coffee break

2:30-3:45
Family impacts
Presenters: Katharina Graf, Dagmar Heřtová

3:45-4:00
Coffee break

4:00-5:00
Community impacts
Presenter: Lisa Abend

5:00-7:00
Reception

Day 2 (Friday, 24 May 2024)

9:30-10:00
Arrival check-in + coffee

10:00-10:15
Reflections on day 1

10:15-12:00
Authenticity / creativity impacts
Presenters: Dave Monroe, Nicola Perullo, Sanna Hirvonen

12:00-1:00
Lunch

1:00-2:15
AI bias / diversity impacts
Presenter: Tomas Hribek

2:15-2:30
Coffee break

2:30-3:45
Other impacts (economics, safety, nutrition, waste/environ., etc.)
Presenter: Juraj Hvorecký

3:45-4:00
Coffee break

4:00-4:45
The Bigger Picture / reflections          

4:45-5:00
Workshop wrap-up and next steps