2023 ELO FORUMS HIGHLIGHT
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a game-changer for everyone. The frenzy created around AI is akin to the advent of the internet, and its rise will change everyone’s lives. People are increasingly uncertain about the future of technology. Who will be the winners and losers in this tech shake-up?
Many problems arise surrounding this issue. How do we understand AI? There are many ethical issues as values must be clarified to make key decisions. What about the perils? People may be losing their jobs. But what is the upside? The rise of AI has created a gold rush of opportunities regarding commercial applications.
The objective of the AI focus at the ELO Forums is to help leaders understand AI better. The ELO Forums in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Toronto will each have a session focus on AI.
The first session participant is Prof. John Lennox, Professor Emeritus, University of Oxford, one of the leading evangelical Christian apologists of our day. He has been an instructor in the ELO Oxford Leadership Program since 2018. He has engaged in countless public debates with the so-called “new atheists.” He has authored many books and recently published 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. One of his interviews on the topic titled "AI, Man and God" has been viewed on YouTube over 1.3 million times. We are privileged to have him join us via Zoom from the UK.
Dr. Lennox will speak focus on “Artificial Intelligence: What are the Implications for the Future of Humanity?" Dr. Lennox’s remarks, grounded in his recent book 2084, will cover three ideas:
- The key developments in AI;
- The agreements and disagreements that scientists and experts have about the future of AI; and
- The key insights that Christianity and Scripture have about the nature of human beings, the soul, our moral sense, our future, and what separates us from machines.
The second session participant (in Winnipeg and Toronto; in Vancouver it will be Steve Kim, also with Apologetics Canada)) is Dr. Andy Steiger, Founder and President, Apologetics Canada, who has done doctoral-level work on AI. He will speak on “An Artificial Intelligence: What are the Facts and Fiction? Andy notes that “AI algorithms were first invented back in the 1970s but the computing power to operate and the data necessary to fuel them is a more recent development. Now that machine learning has become widely accessible and grabbed our collective imagination, it's essential we understand not only what AI can do but what it can't do if we will ever successfully integrate it into business and society.” Andy will provide a context for understanding the current capacity of AI, its potential benefits and dangers, the facts, and the fiction.
The third session participant is John Carbrey, an experienced high-tech entrepreneur and founder of FutureSight Ventures. John will focus on: “The Artificial Intelligence: Is There A Gold Rush of Commercial Opportunities?” John’s current focus is FutureSight Ventures, a venture studio committed to co-creating the next generation of world-class companies with carefully vetted entrepreneurs.
One particular investment focus of FutureSight is “Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI),” defined as artificial intelligence capable of generating text, images, or other media (for example, “ChatGPT”). Generative AI models learn the patterns and structure of their input training data and then generate new data that has similar characteristics.
According to John, generative AI has unlocked a world of possibilities for innovation and problem-solving, offering businesses the potential to streamline processes, reduce costs, and enhance customer experiences. From marketing’s automated personalized content to healthcare’s precise medical imaging analysis, generative AI is revolutionizing industries.
John believes that “the best time to invest in generative AI is now when the technology is validated, but its full range of business applications remains untapped. Investors who recognize this moment can position themselves as pioneers in this emerging space, driving innovation and commercialization across various industries. By seizing this opportunity, they can harness the transformative power of generative AI and work with visionary founders that realize its potential to reshape the future.”
If you want to understand AI and what it means for you, your faith, business, and society—then the Forums are a must-attend event.
