AI: Beyond the Hype—Shaping the Future Together

From news media, to politicians, industry leaders, and daily conversation, the topic of AI seems to be everywhere these days. We are hearing from many different directions that AI is set to change our lives in astounding ways — sometimes for the better, and other times for the worse. But rarely are people asked the crucial follow-up question: what do we want our technological future to look like?

We know that AI is already present in various areas of society today. But what is this technology, exactly? How and where is it showing up, and where is it heading? For some, this technology can feel scary and confusing, while for others the idea of AI and its potential benefits is exciting and hopeful. Many people land somewhere in-between, or perhaps they are not thinking about AI at all.

What is rarely talked about however, is that we – as individuals and communities – actually have agency on this issue and can play an active and crucial role in shaping the future of AI’s adoption and how it will impact our lives.

Join us on December 4th for the 2024 Bruce and Lis Welch Community Dialogue for impactful learning and stimulating conversation. The evening will begin at 5:00 pm with an opportunity for attendees to explore the interactive AI exhibit in the atrium. At 6:00 pm, the community dialogue will kick off, where we will hear from speakers who are thinking critically, researching and communicating about the intersection of AI and humanity.

Attendees will also be among the first to learn from new public opinion research on British Columbians' perspectives on AI, commissioned by the Dialogue on Technology Project, a new SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue initiative focused on AI’s social impacts. This research will provide up-to-date analysis on the BC public’s general awareness, attitudes and views on AI and its implications for the province. And we will hear from each other, as we gather and envision our future, together.

This community dialogue is by the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and supported by SFU Public Square.

Daniel Barcay is a technologist who is passionate about the immense power and promise of technology. A builder at heart, Daniel’s career has focused on creating global-scale technologies while driving wise and responsible practices around the rollout of new tech. Daniel was a Product Vice President at Planet Labs, where he led teams building a planetary-scale platform enabling users to extract actionable insights from a deep stack of global-daily satellite images. Prior to that, the Chief Technology Officer of Thiel Macro, where he focused on building predictive models of global-scale market phenomena. Daniel started his career as a software engineer at Google, helping build several prominent projects including Google Earth and Latitude, as well as conducting machine learning research. He has studied leadership development, team dynamics, and adult-developmental psychology. In his leadership development practice, he teaches fellow leaders the cognitive tools to embrace complexity and thrive amidst uncertainty. Daniel was recently a research fellow in the Antikythera Program at the Berggruen Institute - a think tank reorienting planetary computation as a philosophical, technological, and geopolitical force. In his spare time, he loves to fly various forms of powered and unpowered aircraft.

Stephanie Dick is a historian of mathematics, computing, and the mind with a focus on artificial intelligence. For over fifteen years, she has been exploring what artificial intelligence is, what it does, and the histories that shape its character and potential today. She holds a PhD in History of Science from Harvard University and she is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser. Stephanie is co-editor with Janet Abbate of Abstractions and Embodiments: New Histories of Computing and Society, she co-edits the “Mining the Past” column at the Harvard Data Science Review; she is co-editor of the most recent issue of the British Journal for the History of Science “Themes”: Histories of AI: A Genealogy of Power. Within the university, Stephanie’s research and teaching explore attempts to automate mathematical intelligence and theorem-proving in the 20th century; the introduction of centralized computer databases to American policing in the 1960s; and in her most recent work, she is exploring debates about the character of the human mind at the intersection of logic, philosophy, and the occult. Outside of the university, Stephanie offers lectures, seminars and strategic guidance on AI for adopters, investors, regulators and other key stakeholders. In that vein, she is regularly invited to participate in and present at events oriented around AI and the future of the work, AI and society, AI ethics, and AI regulation and has shared her expertise in diverse venues from NPR to Prada Mode. Stephanie love science fiction and the role it can play in our exploration of all of these themes as well, and has enjoyed bringing her expertise on AI into conversations about Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, Frank Herbert's Dune, and more. She has also written a comic book about AI and the human experience, called Recognition, that is currently being illustrated by Ohio-based artist Bren Perez. Their first installment will be published in 2025. Before returning home to Canada to join the faculty at SFU, Stephanie was an Assistant Professor of History and Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Junior Fellow with the Harvard Society of Fellows.

Dr. Aftab Erfan (she/her) is Executive Director of SFU Centre for Dialogue and Associate Member at SFU School of Public Policy. Previously, she served as the City of Vancouver’s inaugural Chief Equity Officer, and Director of Dialogue and Conflict Engagement at UBC. She holds a PhD in planning from UBC, a Masters in planning from McGill University, and a BSc in environmental sciences from UBC. Aftab has extensive experience as a process designer and facilitator, specializing in hosting dialogues on contentious issues with warmth and creativity. Her experience spans 15 years and five continents. She holds numerous honours, including BC500 most influential business leaders in BC (Business in Vancouver), Research for a Better Life: The Storytellers Challenge (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), and Best Published Paper Award Shortlist (Association of European Schools of Planning).

We respectfully acknowledge the unceded, traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, on which the SFU Vancouver campus and the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue building are located.

Washrooms are located on the lower level, second, third and fourth floors of the building. The venue has a gender-neutral washroom, available on the second floor in the east hallway. All floors within the building, including the venue and washrooms, are wheelchair accessible and serviced by elevators. How can we make this event accessible for you? If you have any questions, concerns, or comments regarding this event’s accessibility, feel free to connect with us at [email protected].

The SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue is located at 580 W. Hastings St (enter by Seymour Street at Joe Segal Way), and is a brief walk from Waterfront station and numerous bus stops. Bike racks are available outside the Hastings entrance of SFU Harbour Centre (located across the street). Nearby parking is available at 500 & 400 W. Cordova St.

This event is being photographed and video-recorded by SFU for archival, education, and related promotional purposes. By attending or participating in this event, you are giving your consent to be photographed and/or video-recorded.

If you do not wish to be photographed and/or video-recorded, please email [email protected].

This is an inclusive event. By submitting your registration, you are agreeing to engage with organizers and other guests at the event in a respectful manner. Offensive or discriminatory behaviour and/or language toward event organizers and other guests will not be tolerated. Such behaviour may result in the removal or banning of the individual(s) from future events.

Host or Publisher SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue