Hannes Werthner and his team have always been keen to create an awareness of Informatics’ all-pervasive nature beyond the confines of the academia. It changes every aspect of our lives and influences us more and more as a society and as individuals. Thanks to the commitment of the outgoing dean, awareness within the faculty as well as among the wider public has been raised that we must think of Informatics not just as subject but also in subject. This event is dedicated to Hannes Werthner and his team.

Program

17:30 — Welcome Address

Gerti Kappel, Dean-Elect, TU Wien Informatics

17:45 — Is AI Different?

James Larus, Professor and Dean of the School of Computer and Communications Sciences (IC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Artificial Intelligence has long been one of the important focal points of computer science research since the 1960s. Recently, with the advent of statistical techniques such as machine learning, the field has made considerable progress in automating human behavior such as vision, speech, language understanding and production, and game playing. This progress has renewed fear that superintelligent machines will supplant humans.

This talk presents both a strong argument by Stuart Russell (UCB) that this danger is real as well as a critical response to both the quality of the argument, his proposed response to the danger, and the immediacy of the threat.

18:45 — Word of Farewell

Gerti Kappel

19:00 — Fine Fingerfood, Drinks, and Punch

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