- Alliance University wraps up its AI & Society Confest 2024, a multidisciplinary exploration of Artificial Intelligence’s impact on society, featuring discussions, art exhibitions and performances
Alliance University successfully concluded its AI & Society Confest 2024, a three-day exploration of Artificial Intelligence’s multifaceted impact on society. Held at Alliance University Anekal campus and the Bangalore International Centre (BIC), the confest brought together leading academics, industry professionals and artists for a stimulating exchange of ideas.
The Alliance School of Design & Creative Arts showcased design installations on campus, including Infinite Binaries, which delved into the technology realm with a tactile room that symbolises the intricate workings of a computer’s mind.
“Through the AI Confest, the Liberal Arts team at Alliance University has curated a gathering of leading experts across diverse fields such as philosophy, warfare, governance, media, psychology, culture and design, alongside top Indian artists leveraging AI in their work. Over three days, participants engaged in a thought-provoking exploration of AI’s implications on society”, Dr Anirudh Sridhar, Dean, Thought Leadership, Alliance University and The visionary behind the AI Confest, said.
Dr Hiroki Habuka, Research Professor, Kyoto University, provided valuable insights into AI governance frameworks. The programme delved into various facets of AI’s influence on society, including a panel discussion on ’Beyond AI Evangelism’ examining the practical implications and ethical considerations surrounding AI adoption.
The interplay between AI and the media landscape was explored in a session featuring Sannuta Raghu, Executive Producer, Scroll.in and Lakshmi Sivadas, Programme Manager at London School of Economics and Political Science.
Dr T G Sitharam, Chairman, All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), highlighted Alliance University’s advancement in AI research and innovation, personalised learning experiences and ethical considerations of AI-driven military technologies ensued and a series of discussions on diverse topics followed, including sessions on AI and design, AI and mental health, AI’s implications for governance and the future of education in the AI era.
The final day featured a vibrant AI art exhibition showcasing the works of talented artists, a panel discussion titled ’Deconstructing AI as an Idea and Practice’ that offered a historical analysis of artificial intelligence, and a session on exploring the implications of AI for governance, featuring DrHiroki Habuka and Dr Charru Malhotra, Professor, The Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.
“This confest introduces a novel perspective, underexplored in Indian institutions thus far. While AI predominantly resides within business, management, engineering and technology domains, our confest invites participants to explore AI through diverse disciplinary lenses such as culture, society, media, philosophy and psychology”, Dr Sayan Dey, Assistant Professor, Department of Language & Literature, stated.
The confest concluded with insightful discussions on AI and culture, featuring Dr Francesca Ferrando and Tanuj Solanki, Author of ’The Machine is Learning A Curatorial Overview’ allowed participating artists to discuss how AI catalyzes artistic innovation. Dr Michiel Baas provided a guided tour through the captivating art exhibition, highlighting the intersection of technology and creativity in the 21st century.
“Alliance University aims to redefine academia, fostering a dynamic space where contemporary ideas are openly debated. Recognising AI’s transformative impact, the School of Liberal Arts integrates it across disciplines. Positioned as a cultural nexus, the University endeavours to set a new standard, epitomised by its forthcoming AI art gallery”, Dr Anirudh Sridhar, added.
