Beyond the Matrix: The reality of AI risk

Schedule

Mon Jun 08 2026 at 08:00 pm to 09:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

Room RCH/037 - Ron Cooke Hub | York, EN

Advertisement
University of York experts explore if AI is a Hollywood threat or a trusted tool, and how chatbots have shifted the global conversation.
About this Event

The risks from highly advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) have increasingly been covered by the media. You might have seen The Matrix or 2001: Space Odyssey, listened to the ‘Godfathers’ of AI discuss catastrophic risks, or read papers and books discussing the risk of existential catastrophe by AI systems. But is AI a Hollywood-style threat or a tool we can trust?

With the improvement of chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, the debate over whether the control of advanced AI should be a research priority has moved from speculation or science fiction to a serious policy discussion.
The University of York’s AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe AI (SAINTS), based in the Institute for Safe Autonomy, is at the forefront of the mission to ensure the safety of AI. Join experts from ISA for a panel discussion as they explore the pressing issues. The focus will be on how the debate has changed over the last five years as general-purpose AI systems, such as chatbots, have improved.

Come along and discover whether catastrophic risks from AI systems should be an international research priority, which risks experts are most worried about (or not worried about), and the role of academia, policy and industry in mitigating potential risks from AI systems.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Please ensure you use the correct email address as this is where your ticket will be sent. If you do not provide the correct address, you will not receive the acknowledgement email or ticket.

Advertisement

Where is it happening?

Room RCH/037 - Ron Cooke Hub, Campus East, York, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

GBP 0.00

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
York Festival of Ideas

Host or Publisher York Festival of Ideas

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in York

Poetry and Place in the Viking World
Mon, 08 Jun at 07:00 pm Poetry and Place in the Viking World

North South - Cafe & Bar

ART LITERARY-ART
INVASIVE SPECIES - VALENTA - PIGEON
Mon, 08 Jun at 07:30 pm INVASIVE SPECIES - VALENTA - PIGEON

121 Fulford Road, YO10 4EX York, United Kingdom

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Sensing the 17th Century - session 2
Mon, 08 Jun at 07:30 pm Sensing the 17th Century - session 2

Merchant Adventurers' Hall

FESTIVALS ART
There\u2019s a Ghost in My Room: Living with the supernatural
Mon, 08 Jun at 07:45 pm There’s a Ghost in My Room: Living with the supernatural

The Lakehouse - Ron Cooke Hub

ART LITERARY-ART
CM 2026
Tue, 09 Jun at 08:30 am CM 2026

The Grand, York

BUSINESS CONFERENCES
Monthly meeting June
Tue, 09 Jun at 10:00 am Monthly meeting June

Meeting room 1, Blake House

FITNESS MEETUPS
Poetry in the Woods: Poetry and place in the work of John Clare
Tue, 09 Jun at 02:00 pm Poetry in the Woods: Poetry and place in the work of John Clare

St Nicks - Nature Reserve & Environment Centre

ART LITERARY-ART
Excel5 More formulae (Tue 9 Jun 2026 15:00-16:00) - York FT208
Tue, 09 Jun at 03:00 pm Excel5 More formulae (Tue 9 Jun 2026 15:00-16:00) - York FT208

FT208, Fountains Learning Centre

WORKSHOPS
slurp 'n Learn -  AI Community and Education
Wed, 11 Mar at 06:00 pm slurp 'n Learn - AI Community and Education

Patch York

FITNESS BUSINESS
Propel York and North Yorkshire Pilot Accelerator - Masterclass Day 1
Tue, 02 Jun at 09:00 am Propel York and North Yorkshire Pilot Accelerator - Masterclass Day 1

De Grey Court, York St John University

HEALTH-WELLNESS SCIENCE-FAIR
Building for Community: Ownership & Land
Tue, 02 Jun at 06:00 pm Building for Community: Ownership & Land

Angel On The Green

CONTESTS NONPROFIT
Discoveries without Understanding?
Tue, 02 Jun at 07:00 pm Discoveries without Understanding?

Bootham School

SCIENCE-FAIR
Annual meeting followed by "An ai-enabled profession" with  David D\u2019Souza
Wed, 03 Jun at 06:00 pm Annual meeting followed by "An ai-enabled profession" with David D’Souza

University of York

FITNESS MEETUPS
What Will Education Look Like in the Future?
Wed, 03 Jun at 06:00 pm What Will Education Look Like in the Future?

Room CL/057 - Church Lane Building

FITNESS BUSINESS
York Minster: A sustainable future
Wed, 03 Jun at 07:30 pm York Minster: A sustainable future

York Minster

WORKSHOPS
Space: The final frontier
Thu, 04 Jun at 10:30 am Space: The final frontier

Tempest Anderson Hall,

FITNESS FESTIVALS
Chaos or Revolution? AI and jobseeking
Thu, 04 Jun at 06:00 pm Chaos or Revolution? AI and jobseeking

Room LFA/144

CONTESTS ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE
Installing Charge Points: From planning to operation
Sat, 06 Jun at 10:15 am Installing Charge Points: From planning to operation

The Lakehouse - Ron Cooke Hub

FITNESS ART
Can Games Save the Planet?
Sat, 06 Jun at 11:00 am Can Games Save the Planet?

Ron Cooke Hub

Step Aboard: Rail\u2019s journey to a responsible future
Sat, 06 Jun at 12:00 pm Step Aboard: Rail’s journey to a responsible future

Room RCH/037 - Ron Cooke Hub

FESTIVALS

What's Happening Next in York?

Discover York Events