Artificial Intelligence expert, John C Havens, to headline Bond Seminar Series

One of the world’s leading authorities on artificial intelligence will tackle the ethical dilemmas that arise when robots replace humans at a Bond University Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLE) Public Seminar next week <Tuesday, 29 May>.

John C Havens, the Executive Director of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, will fly to the Gold Coast to discuss the recent launch of Google Duplex and its ability to mimic human speech so well people are not aware they are listening to machines.

Titled ‘Identity in the Algorithmic Age’, Mr Havens’ presentation will examine the many legal and ethical issues raised by the personal assistant bot technology and consider where the line is between helping people and tricking them.

He will also demonstrate the critical need for tools that provide people with the ability to control their personal information in digital and virtual environments.

Bond Faculty of Law Executive Dean Professor Nick James said Mr Havens’ visit had been made possible by the Baker McKenzie Eminent Visitor Program, with the law firm a philanthropic supporter of the Faculty since its inception in 1989.

“Law schools are preparing the lawyers of tomorrow and therefore have to be at the forefront of changes in the legal services sector,” he said.

“It is no longer simply about helping law students become technically competent lawyers. Law schools must teach our students how to deliver technology-mediated legal solutions, work within new regulatory frameworks and become familiar with the use of artificial intelligence and other emergent technologies.

“That’s why we are delighted to host John, whose expertise when it comes to such matters is renowned globally. Our students and guests are certain to leave the seminar with a better understanding of some of the great ethical challenges confronting us today.

“John’s work aligns closely with the efforts by our Centre for Professional Legal Education to better understand the impact of emergent technologies upon the legal services sector and the changes that need to be made to traditional legal education to better prepare law students for a technology-centric future.

“His work about the interface between technology and ethics is particularly relevant and important.”

The IEEE Global AI Ethics Initiative has a mission to ensure every stakeholder involved in the design and development of autonomous and intelligent systems is educated, trained and empowered to prioritise ethical, values-driven considerations.

As well as contributing on technology and wellbeing issues to Mashable and The Guardian, Mr Havens is the author of Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing our Humanity to Maximize Machines and Hacking Happiness: Why Your Personal Data Counts and How Tracking It Can Change the World.

A former professional actor, he was also an executive vice-president of social media at public relations firm Porter Novelli where he worked with clients including P&G, Gillette, HP and Merck.

The Bond CPLE Public Seminar, featuring John C Havens, will be held at Bond University’s Faculty of Law building on Tuesday, 29 May.

For more information and to register for the event, click here.