Our weekly SRI Seminar Series welcomes Luciano Floridi, founding director of the Digital Ethics Center and professor in the Cognitive Science Program at Yale University. Before joining Yale, he was the OII Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the University of Oxford.

World-renowned as one of the most authoritative voices of contemporary philosophy, Floridi is a founding figure within the philosophy of information and one of the major interpreters of the digital revolution. He is deeply engaged with policy initiatives on the socio-ethical value and implications of digital technologies and collaborates closely on these topics with many governments and companies worldwide. His most recent books are The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence – Principles, Challenges, and Opportunities (OUP, 2023) and The Green and The Blue – Naive Ideas to Improve Politics in the Digital Age (Wiley, 2023).

Talk title:
“What is the impact of AI on democracy?”

Abstract:
The impact of AI on democracy is a complex and multifaceted topic. On the one hand, AI can enhance democratic processes, by improving efficiency, transparency, and citizen engagement. For example, AI can be used to analyze large amounts of data and provide insights that can inform policy-making and decision-making processes. It can also facilitate citizen participation through platforms that enable direct communication and feedback. On the other hand, AI can exacerbate existing inequalities and power imbalances. AI algorithms can be biased or discriminatory, leading to unequal treatment or exclusion of certain groups. Additionally, the use of AI in political campaigns and elections raises concerns about the manipulation of public opinion and the spread of misinformation. In this talk, I shall analyse these issues and argue that AI could help to solve the current crisis of democracy.

About Luciano Floridi
Luciano Floridi is the founding director of the Digital Ethics Center and professor in the Cognitive Science Program at Yale University. He is also professor of Sociology of Culture and Communication at the University of Bologna and the editor in chief of Philosophy & Technology. Before joining Yale, he was the OII Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at the University of Oxford.

He has published more than 300 works on the philosophy of information, digital ethics, the ethics of AI, and the philosophy of technology. His most recent books are The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence – Principles, Challenges, and Opportunities (OUP, 2023) and The Green and The Blue – Naive Ideas to Improve Politics in the Digital Age (Wiley, 2023). His works have been translated into many languages. He is deeply engaged with policy initiatives on the socio-ethical value and implications of digital technologies and their applications, and collaborates closely on these topics with governments and companies worldwide. In 2022, Sergio Mattarella, president of the Italian Republic, bestowed upon him Italy’s most prestigious honor, the title of Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, in recognition of his foundational work in philosophy.

About the SRI Seminar Series
The SRI Seminar Series brings together the Schwartz Reisman community and beyond for a robust exchange of ideas that advance scholarship at the intersection of technology and society. Seminars are led by a leading or emerging scholar and feature extensive discussion.

Each week, a featured speaker will present for 45 minutes, followed by an open discussion. Registered attendees will be emailed a Zoom link before the event begins. The event will be recorded and posted online.

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