MCWHIRTER CONFERENCE : AI – WILL IT MAKE US HAPPIER ?
IMPLICATIONS OF THE RISE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
FROM LEFT : ZAC REID , CAMERON LOU
Zac Reid and Cameron Lou – two Year 11 boys – attended the annual McWhirter Conference online in the June / July holiday break . The conference brought together interested students from many schools in Victoria , to encourage deep thinking on current issues and opportunities for informed student voice .
The 2021 McWhirter Conference topic was ‘ AI ( artificial intelligence ) – will it make us happier ?’ Here are the boys ’ reflections on the conference .
ZAC REID ( YEAR 11 )
Although we may not have reached a definitive conclusion , it is evident that artificial intelligence will drastically change how we communicate , affect our definition of privacy , the way we consume content , and even how we function as a species .
There were various informative guest speakers , each concerned with a different area of AI . I especially enjoyed Dr Colin Hales ’ lecture , as he spoke about very interesting new technology he is currently working on : a form of artificial brain tissue which stems from inorganic replication technology , and facilitates natural learning like a human ’ s experience as a biological entity . He hopes that it will one day assist individuals with neurological deficiencies and diseases , and have possible further applications .
I found the entire conference to be very interesting , and I especially enjoyed being able to discuss the ideas we had been introduced to in our syndicate groups . It was an incredible conference and provided much food for thought in relation to a very current topic , which will become increasingly relevant in the future .
CAMERON LOU ( YEAR 11 )
The recent McWhirter Conference , held over the term break , was centred around artificial intelligence and whether our increasing reliance on it indeed makes people happier . During the conference , the outlooks and viewpoints from industry professionals regarding the mechanisms , functionalities and future developments of AI gave us a point of heated discussion and debate about the ethical and societally conscious use of AI and machine learning .
One of the more stimulating topics presented by Dr Colin Hales was his work in developing an artificial general intelligence , an artificial creation of the neural networks and signals found within the brain . This topic gave rise to some deep thinking and some ethical dilemmas within the group . What if artificial intelligence could develop consciousness as a first-person experience in the future ? Would a conscious machine develop a sense of individuality and agency , and how would humans treat these beings ?
Another constant theme throughout was the idea of happiness and what makes people joyful and content . While it is hard to verbalise or even describe the emotions of happiness , we must first understand this before measuring the impact of AI on societal contentment . While still a relatively novel concept , artificial intelligence and machine learning have already blended seamlessly within our daily lives , for better or worse , which demonstrates its potential to impact our lifestyles as we know it .
Questions , discussions and thoughts like these throughout the McWhirter Conference made it immensely enjoyable and challenging , opening up to us the ability to contemplate the direction of society , and imagine where we strive to be and what type of people we wish to become .
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