We all have a smartphone in our pocket, search engines like google are an integral part of our everyday life and algorithms determine which series we are watching – digitization and artificial intelligence have already been part of our lives for a long time.

International experts in computer science and related sciences gave us insights into what happens behind our screens and how hidden paths on the web influence us. Dr. Niall Duncan, neuroscientist from the Medical University Taipei, explained the connection between ethics, digitalization and consciousness. With Prof. Christoph Benzmüller, winner of the Berlin Science Slam 2021, we were guaranteed sound perspectives from the field of AI. The relationship between man and machine was discussed by psychologist and computer scientist Prof. Ute Schmid. With the IT security expert Alexander von Gernler, we transferred theoretical concepts into practical and everyday action approaches.

Four transdisciplinary inputs provided our international audience with a scientific basis for the final panel discussion. Together with Dr. Niall Duncan, we took up the challenge of getting closer to the topic of „consciousness“ to understand it in terms of digitalization and its implications for artificial intelligence. We need to become aware of the complexity of human thinking in order to understand the challenge of human-created intelligence. Thereupon gave Prof. Christoph Benzmüller a fascinating talk and a competent explanation of AI systems and possible limits. Doing so he led us further to our core question of responsibility of science in the field of digitalization and artificial intelligence.

After the first round of questions, the next part of our event began with the second keynote round. Prof. Ute Schmid introduced this part with her talk „Third Wave of AI Methods for Human-AI Partnerships“. As the name suggests, Ms. Schmid strongly advocated for a close cooperation between humans and AIs in the future. Humans must never be completely left out of digitized processes. She believes in „human in-the-loop“, the constant inclusion of people for ethical, practical and necessary action. The keynote round was finalized by our IT-security expert Alexander von Gernler. Mr. von Gernler has already held talks at a digital Young VDW event, so the JVDW organizers were very pleased to have won him over for this event. Mr. von Gernler linked previous topics with the responsibility of society and science through his security driven perspectives. He thus provided the perfect framework for the following large panel discussion.

In our final panel, we discussed with our experts, international students and interested parties how science can position itself responsibly in the context of digitalization and artificial intelligence.

Panel Discussion:

The event was held in the Einstein Hall of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. It was organized by the Young VDW.

Thank you for the stimulating inputs and the exciting discussions with you!