Northumbria University to host the inaugural AI safety summit for the North East

Northumbria University and Dynamo North East Collaborate to Present Dynamo Talks: The North East AI Safety Summit”

In partnership with Dynamo North East, an industry-focused membership organization dedicated to advancing the tech sector in the North East, Dr. Kimberley Hardcastle and Dr. Colin Richardson from Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School are set to host an event that delves into Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on our lives during this era of profound technological transformation.

Dynamo Talks: The North East AI Safety Summit will convene businesses and organizations from across the North East to establish a collective regional perspective on the utilization of AI in industry. This unique event will feature a cutting-edge panel discussion with industry experts, focusing on the latest opportunities and challenges in the realm of Artificial Intelligence, including ethical considerations, regulatory aspects, and responsible development.

This summit also provides a platform for like-minded individuals, experts, and professionals to network and collaborate, with the aim of driving positive changes within various industries and influencing AI policies.

Dr Hardcastle, Assistant Professor in Marketing, explained: “I believe it is vital that we capture and articulate a regional voice on the opportunities and threats around AI for local people, organisations and businesses,” Dr Hardcastle said. “Influencing AI regulation at Parliament is essential to ensure a prosperous and responsible AI-driven future for our region and beyond.

“We are at a unique moment for technology. We haven’t even dealt with the issues brought about by social media technologies, yet AI has the potential to create further societal problems that must be averted. We know that the best time to influence a medium is at the very beginning of its trajectory. We want to position the North East at the forefront of the global conversation on AI safety and this event at Northumbria is the first real opportunity to do this before the UK Government hosts the first Global AI Safety Summit next month.”

Al Alzein, Membership Engagement Manager at Dynamo, added: “Dynamo is the voice of the North East tech sector and therefore we are delighted to be partnering up with Northumbria University – long-term Dynamo members – to give our region an opportunity to get involved in the AI safety debate via this event.

“There are so many fantastic people and businesses in our region with a plethora of perspectives on this topic, and we want people to attend this event and get involved in the conversation to give the North East a say.”

The North East AI Safety Summit Joins the AI Fringe Programme – An Inclusive Discourse on Responsible AI”

Northumbria University’s event is proudly a part of the AI Fringe Programme, a series of gatherings held throughout the UK designed to complement the UK Government’s AI Safety Summit. These events aim to encompass a diverse range of perspectives in discussions surrounding responsible AI. Northumbria’s event, marking the initiation of the Dynamo Talks series, is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 27, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am in The Great Hall at the University’s City Campus.

The summit’s culmination will offer attendees the chance to join The North East AI Responsibility Network, which will serve as the voice of the region, ensuring that its AI needs and concerns are duly addressed. This network will bring together academics, industry professionals, business leaders, policymakers, and community representatives to foster meaningful dialogue and action.