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Discussion on the future: Minister Pinkwart and media ethicist Filipović talk about AI and politics

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"What political action is needed to develop artificial intelligence" was the question addressed by NRW Innovation Minister Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart and media ethicist Prof. Dr. Alexander Filipović from the Munich School of Philosophy. Under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Gerhard Vowe (Senior Professor of Communication and Media Studies), the question was examined from an economic, media and health policy perspective. Rector Prof. Dr. Anja Steinbeck pointed out in her welcoming address that artificial intelligence already influences our life, thinking and living together and emphasized the importance of such expert discussions for the Heinrich Heine University, also in its self-chosen mission as a citizen university.

There was great interest in the first Future Discussion within the HeiCAD Lectures, and about 100 people attended the event.

The moderator's first short question and answer session showed that artificial intelligence already surrounds us everywhere: According to Prof. Dr. Alexander Filipović, it not only ensures fun playing computer games by offering rewards and incentives at the right time, but also makes itself felt when using the Internet: "I often notice that someone is thinking for me," reported Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart. "Economically, AI has many advantages," said the minister, who presented the NRW path to artificial intelligence: These include, first and foremost, the bundling of competencies and the integration of AI in mechanical engineering, "in this way NRW links research and practice. In this context, Pinkwart also pointed out the different approaches to AI development in the USA and in Germany: While development in the USA is based on huge amounts of data, the German approach is more knowledge-based. Media ethicist Filipović made it clear how important it is that the trend towards automation is actively shaped in Germany: "The moral convictions of the person who develops them are always in the systems. Technology is not neutral. One always imports thereby also the moral conceptions of the developers with.

This also becomes clear in the field of media politics, where robot journalism, automated reporting and also the personalization of content increase the flood of information, but also make it easier for the individual to handle it. Here Filipovic saw a clear need for regulation, while the minister said that much of this was just the further development of old familiar methods.

In terms of health policy, both discussants emphasized the advantages of personalized therapies and databases for research. However, they agreed that data protection was particularly important. While Pinkwart saw AI as a tool that physicians should use wisely, Filipović pointed out the potential overburdening of patients: "What will be done with the knowledge that is produced? It is precisely the question of the right to not know that requires political action".

In the concluding round of questions, the diversity of the topic of artificial intelligence and the manifold ways in which scientists deal with the subject also became clear.

 

Autor/in: Victoria Meinschäfer
Kategorie/n: HeiCAD
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