On Friday, 27th September 2024, ADAPT hosted its Explore AI showcase for European Researchers’ Night at the Douglas Hyde Gallery in Trinity College Dublin. The event, part of the START initiative, attracted over 800 attendees, surpassing last year’s numbers by 200. The event introduced attendees to a wide range of interactive demos, presentations, and discussions, all aimed at exploring AI’s impact on creativity, health, and entertainment. From thought-provoking discussions at the AI Dilemma Café to the visually immersive Face Value interactive art installation, attendees were invited to examine the role of AI in our daily lives and its ethical implications.
One of the highlights of the evening was “From Virtual to Reality… and Back!”, an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience. Visitors donned IVR visors, embodying virtual avatars, and were able to explore how VR could trick the mind into believing they were moving, resulting in both subjective and physiological reactions like changes in heart rate. Another demo enjoyed by attendees was Face Value, an art installation showcasing how facial recognition technology works. Although no data is collected, by capturing real-time images of visitors’ faces, the demo visually illustrates the fine line between innovation, surveillance, and privacy.
Returning this year the “Art or AI? Museum of Very Modern Art” installation pushed participants to discern whether a series of artworks were created by humans or AI. In addition, the eSTÓR project demonstrated its efforts to enhance digital platforms like virtual assistants and search engines for Irish speakers. Younger audiences were also catered to this year with Understanding AI, offering puzzles, interactive activities, and fun facts about AI. Our researchers were on hand to guide children and their families through activities, sparking curiosity and promoting learning in a playful environment.
Another prominent project featured was the Vigilant Project, which addresses the growing concerns about misinformation in the digital age. Visitors were encouraged to reflect on their confidence in identifying disinformation, and engage in discussions about whether authorities should intervene to curb the spread of harmful content. Further contributing to the conversation on ethics, the Algowatch demo used games and quizzes to raise awareness of the influence of algorithms on media consumption and democracy. Through interactive games, visitors were challenged to develop digital skills and think critically about the information they encounter online.
This year ADAPT were also delighted to host an Irish Sign Language (ISL) tour, making the event accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. This effort was further complemented by the ISL STEM Glossary project, which aims to expand scientific vocabulary in ISL. ADAPT’s Neureka app, which brings brain health research to smartphones, was another significant highlight on the night. Visitors learned how gamified tasks and real-time mood tracking can contribute to understanding brain health outside of traditional lab environments.
European Researchers’ Night 2024 was a testament to ADAPT’s role in shaping the future of AI, with an eclectic mix of art, science, ethics, and entertainment on display. The event provided a glimpse into the transformative potential of AI, while also raising important questions about its ethical implications and societal impact. Learn more about the projects on display here.
