How much AI is in our daily lives? This was one of the questions discussed by researchers, students and interested parties at the 31st International AI Conference and the 25th European AI Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms at the Messezentrum in Vienna at the end of July. The participants also used this opportunity to exchange and network on Artificial Intelligence and Algorithms. Keynote speakers from Europe, Australia and the USA captivated the audience. In addition, exciting presentations and discussions were offered. As part of the conference, the Vienna Center for Logic and Algorithms (VCLA) and the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (CAIML) at TU Wien hosted the Logic Lounge. There, renowned scientist and AI specialist Stuart J. Russell spoke on the topic of “AI and the problem of control” and was interviewed by radio journalist Sarah Kriesche about his views on AI. 

Afterwards, the almost 30 listeners were able to ask their questions in the panel discussion. It quickly became clear that AI and algorithms are already being used in numerous areas of our lives, for example in suggested advertising on the Internet, in assessing a person’s creditworthiness or in self-driving cars. As AI increasingly intervenes in our lives, this intervention must also be regulated, which is already happening to some extent. For example, a person’s ethnic origin must not have any influence on his or her creditworthiness, and in the case of some chatbots, it must be recognizable to viewers that the person is an AI and not a real human being - especially when commercial products are offered. Stuart Russell takes a critical view of the use of AI, even though he would describe himself as an optimist. The Logic Lounge has been bringing together the general public and experts from the fields of logic, philosophy, mathematics, computer science and artificial intelligence since 2014. 

More information about this year’s conference is available at https://ijcai-22.org/; more information about the Logic Lounge is available at www.vcla.at/logiclounge/. Both links open an external URL in a new window.