World-leading AI experts deliver inaugural John Mc Carthy Summer School
Posted on: 03 September 2020
The RDI Hub, ADAPT Research Centre and Microsoft will this week investigate the societal benefits for AI at the inaugural John McCarthy AI Summer School.
John McCarthy, who the RDI Hub building in Killorglin, Co Kerry, is named in honour of, is considered one of the founding fathers of the discipline of AI when he coined the term in the mid-1950s.
This week, over two days, experts and thought leaders in the field of AI will virtually gather to discuss how the constantly growing field of AI can be harnessed for the benefit of society, with a particular focus on how it will change ways of working and the impact of AI post COVID-19.
The inaugural event is aiming to create a community which will share best practice and foster the development of the conversation around AI which, according to estimates by PwC, has the potential to boost Ireland’s GDP by €48 billion in 2030.
Topics of discussion across the two days will include:
- AI and the COVID-19 pandemic
- AI for sustainable agriculture
- AI for sustainable cities
- AI from science fiction to the science classroom
The speaker list for this online event brings together Irish and international experts, including Professor of Computer Science at Trinity, Vinny Cahill, and Associate Professor in Statistics at Trinity, Rozenn Dahyot.
Professor Cahill’s research interests address the optimisation of urban resource usage and service delivery in order to improve the quality of life and sustainability of cities. He will discuss transportation efficiency using AI – road vehicle automation for improved travel time reliability.
In her discussion entitled “Sustainable Digital Twins”, Professor Dahyot will showcase some real-world AI application using street view, satellite and social to help improve cities and spaces of the future.
Declan Mc Kibben, Executive Director of the ADAPT Research Centre, said:
“The transformative societal, economic and sustainable benefits of increased AI adoption are clear to see; and multidisciplinary forums and events such as the John McCarthy AI Summer School will deepen our understanding through discussion and learning. With experts in numerous fields I look forward to the different perspectives our panel will have and the sharing of knowledge to our attendees”.
Dr Kevin Marshall, Microsoft Ireland’s Head of Education, said:
“Advancements in AI are creating exciting opportunities to reimagine Ireland’s economy and to create a more inclusive society. Collaboration between industry and research on new technologies like AI is hugely important to unlocking its potential so that we can empower every person to achieve more. The partnership between RDI Hub, the ADAPT Research Centre and us for the John McCarthy AI Summer School is an excellent example of how this partnership can continue, even in the current, uncertain times. I look forward to the new ideas and avenues for cooperation which will result from the first iteration of this summer school.”
The John McCarthy AI Summer School will take place over two half days on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th of September, from 1pm to 5pm, with a mix of plenary lectures and roundtable discussions.
See here for more information and registration details.