‘The Ethics Studio’, will provide a drop – in space in which Beta attendees will be able to explore ethical questions surrounding digital technologies.

Here, visitors can explore how values, ideas, and methods shape the ethical design and development of innovations that impact our daily lives. Doubling as a live research environment, the studio also hosts ADAPT researchers studying how creative tools enhance our understanding of technology’s ethical dimensions.

In a keynote titled “AI: Potential Benefits, Proven Risks”, Dr Abeba Birhane, a cognitive scientist and expert in AI accountability at the Mozilla Foundation and ADAPT, Trinity College Dublin, will explore the disconnect between AI’s promises and its real-world limitations, which often fuel public skepticism.

Dr Birhane will assess the societal impact of leading AI systems today and present recommendations for creating trustworthy, fair, and accountable systems.

“The Bigger Picture” is an Art-Science collaboration that addresses public perception and misconceptions surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a series of participatory workshops, analysis, artist commissions and exhibitions that will take place during Ireland’s Science Week 2024.

Through fresh perspectives and thought-provoking visuals, The Bigger Picture seeks to transform how we perceive and understand Artificial Intelligence — not as a distant, futuristic concept, but as an integral part of the world we live in today.

Join us at the Ethics Studio to see how “The Bigger Picture” has reimagined how Artificial Intelligence is portrayed.

The Knowledge Technologies for Democracy (KT4D) project explores how emerging tech like AI and Big Data can boost democracy and civic engagement. By empowering communities, enhancing social integration, fostering trust in institutions and technological instruments, KT4D aims to harness tech’s potential while navigating ethical, legal, and cultural challenges.

Join the KT4D Digital Democracy Lab for an interactive, hands-on workshop exploring how we can keep both people and democracy in the loop when designing AI systems. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to apply their technical skills to the critical questions of AI governance and democratic values.

At the Ethics Studio, ‘Personal Computer’ presents a quiet scene: a computer sits on a desk in a home office, its owner now absent. What happens to the information stored within?

This installation invites visitors to reflect on questions of digital legacy, privacy and what happens to our personal data when we’re no longer around.

Explore AI firsthand through an animatronic face that comes to life with expressive eye and jaw movements.

Powered by a Raspberry Pi and the advanced GPT system, this AI is ready to answer your questions and showcase the power of speech synthesis, speech recognition, face tracking, and generative AI.

Watch AI evolve before your eyes as new technologies are added over time. Come and be part of the future, where AI is accessible to all!

From riding the bus to police monitoring, surveillance is happening in ways we’ve never experienced before. On average, your image will be captured 100 times a day in a European capital city like Dublin. And that number is on the rise as people, police services, and private companies start to use CCTV cameras for safety and security.

Join an interactive #DiscussAI Think-In on Facial Recognition Technology (FRT). Does FRT impact your daily life? Should we be concerned about where this technology is headed?

Ever searched for images of “Artificial Intelligence” and found blue-hued, sci-fi-inspired visuals of glowing brains, humanoid robots, or streams of binary code? While eye-catching, these images often present a distorted view of AI, far removed from the reality of how this technology shapes our society and impacts our daily lives.

Join us this Science Week for a panel discussion on The Bigger Picture, a project that seeks to challenge these outdated clichés and create a more authentic visual narrative for AI while exploring how the technology can be visually represented in ways that educate, inspire and provoke new thinking.

Image: Yutong Liu & Kingston School of Art / Better Images of AI / Talking to AI 2.0 / CC-BY 4.0

A special installment of the Machine Learning Meet Up will take place at Beta Festival this year focusing on AI and Creativity.

Open to professionals and students interested in Machine Learning in any of its forms. There are presentations by selected guest speakers on different topics, and networking.

Are you curious about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology impacts your life?

Join us for a morning of tea, scones and discovery.

The Ethics Studio at Beta Festival is a welcoming space where your thoughts and experiences of technology matter. Whether you’re familiar with AI and technology or just a little curious, there’s something for everyone – no expertise needed!

The AI Art Assembly intends to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the arts and cultural sector and identify challenges and opportunities bringing together artists, AI researchers and policy makers. This session will not provide the answers but will provide a rolling agenda of areas for discussion when it comes to creating policy.

A conversation based workshop with each table led by a cultural facilitator and an expert in AI including members of ADAPT Research Centre, INSIGHT Research Centre and the AI Advisory.

Image: Adrien Limousin / Better Images of AI / Non-image / CC-BY 4.0

ADAPT researchers took part in this year’s Beta Festival, bringing their expertise to audiences through insightful responses to thought-provoking artworks. The festival features a range of interactive and immersive pieces that explore society’s relationship with emerging technologies.

ADAPT researchers provided critical context for these artworks, helping visitors engage with complex issues around artificial intelligence, digital culture and the future of human-computer interaction.