Humans at the centre of the future of AI
At the event "The robot, our new friend and helper?" in Dietikon, experts discussed the role of artificial intelligence in our society. The evening made it clear that the technology has long been a part of everyday life, but how we shape it determines its benefits.
Artificial intelligence has arrived in everyday life, from language models such as ChatGPT to personalised recommendations. But AI is not intelligent in the human sense. Manuel Kaufmann from the ETH AI Centre demonstrated this vividly. Computers process images as numbers, while humans interpret content contextually. The difference? “Humans think, computers calculate,” says Fabian Unteregger.
From the moon mission to a million users in 5 days
AI systems have made a technological leap forward with enormous computing power. Stephan Sigrist from the think tank W.I.R.E sees AI as an evolutionary development with disruptive potential. His vision is a personal AI assistant that negotiates, plans and communicates with each other on our behalf. This will not only fundamentally change the internet, but also our everyday lives.
Innovation needs social benefits
An AI-related productivity gain of 20 per cent is expected for Switzerland. But technology alone is not enough. “Innovation is what creates benefits,” says Sigrist. This is precisely why clear framework conditions are needed. Stephanie Gygax from Algorithm Watch calls for broad social participation in the design, particularly in view of ecological and ethical issues.
Switzerland as an AI nation with untapped potential
Pascal Kaufmann, founder of AlpineAI, sees Switzerland as the origin and future location for AI. With SwissGPT, he wants to create a local response to global developments that is trustworthy, scientifically sound and technologically leading. For him, it is clear that AI can serve people if they actively shape it.
Dialogue with society
The series of events entitled “The robot, our new friend and helper?” shows how important social dialogue on AI is. Because only if the fears, questions and expectations of the population are taken seriously will a technology emerge that serves people – and not the other way round.