These days Lisbon gathered all technology, government, science and services leaders from all around the world. And as one of the leader of recruiting and business process consulting, DNA325 has sent a team to take part in the event.
Each day we will recap the day’s events for you to stay on track with the latest trends of technology and modern society.
This year WebSummit is all about AI, Data Science, Robotics, IoT, Self-transportation, and Blockchain. Some attendees talked even about combining innovations in these fields, so don’t be surprised if you see something like decentralized blockchain AI for self-driving robots. Yeah, why not?
The stage opened CEO & founder of Feedzai, Nuno Sebastian with his speech about using artificial intelligence to combat financial crimes.
He told that now AI developers are responsible for decision making, and we need to put the resources in the teams that develop. Now all the world need a code of ethics in AI development. But it’s very hard to build. Some countries can use them for bad things and even for military purposes.
The next amazing speaker was famous Stephen Hawking. He mentioned that there is no real difference between what can be reached by computer and human being. Probably that’s why we can’t really predict the impact of impact at the moment.
“We stand on the threshold of the new world.”
Stephen Hawking
One of the main goals that can be achieved, Stephen says, is to eradicate disease and poverty. Obviously, until now we don’t know how to effectively prepare to AI, so it may become one of the best or worst things to happen to the humanity. Scientists can and will develop AI, but the role of influencers can’t be underestimated: they are needed to spread the right policy and attitude to AI. In the context of the EU Commision about AI and the discussion about “electronic personhood”, Hawking emphasized the need for more comprehensive robotic rules.
The evening continued Brian Johnson, (ex-Braintree) founder and CEO of Kernel, a company developing a neuroprosthetic device to improve brain function. Brian covered a topic of the human race future. “What is left behind is learning more about the brain. It’s a party of all modern things we discuss”, — Johnson says. We need to study the brain, it’s the future society literacy. Learn to know other people’s memories, wishes. Like eliminating the nature of enemy relations rather than fighting enemies. Moreover, we need to rebuild the society not by the government, but with the new modern instruments.
“Law of democracy, not the law of jungle should be applied to business regulation.”
EU Commission presented its report highlighting the importance of fair play in business. “Our goal is that the most successful companies are those that build better products rather than unfair ones”. So the challenge is to develop right tools for managing fair competition — it is the main goal and mission of the Commission. “We have to take democracy back because society is about people and not about technology. We have to re-learn to trust technology”.
One more speaker was António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, Portuguese politician and diplomat who is serving as the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. He indicated some negative results of tech growth that have to be fought: climate change and growing inequality. But how to respond to these? Reaching agreements between the governments. But it’s not enough, they should be implemented by combining the leaders of governments, businesses, and society. Definitely, technology can help with this as well. In an example, green economy empowers people to make money and do good.
As we are in the process of the 4th industrial revolution, we should start a public debate between academics, civil society, business, and government in order to avoid mistakes of the previous industrial revolutions, and turn it for good.
“Combine innovations with human rights protection.”
António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres
We will keep you updated about all speakers and latest trends from WebSummit 2017 next day. So stay tuned!
