Beyond the Hype: The Strengths, Weaknesses, and Impacts of Modern AI
Date: Wednesday 18th March
Time: ESR AGM from 7:30pm, presentation to follow
Zoom link: https://aut.zoom.us/j/93299248893?pwd=eqV4YXx8Fg4Wdg4IUa3Gq55jbf5VeU.1 Passcode: 616777 (online only)
The webinar will follow after ESR's Annual General Meeting
Abstract
The webinar will cover a very brief history and overview of the various technologies that have been and are called “Artificial Intelligence” (AI), with a focus on the currently significant “large language models” such as ChatGPT. Professor Robins will look at the strengths and weaknesses of current AI as a technology, and then (as time allows) consider its social, ethical, and environmental impacts.
About the speaker
Anthony Robins is an Emeritus Professor of Computer Science at the University of Otago. Originally from Christchurch he completed a BSc (Hons) in Psychology at the University of Canterbury, then took a trip to the University of Sussex in the UK for his Masters and Doctorate in Artificial Intelligence. Returning to NZ he was appointed as a lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Otago in 1989. Time passed quickly, as it does, and Anthony is somewhat surprised to find himself, as of 2025, happily retired.
Photo by Philipp Katzenberger on Unsplash
