Rapid evolutions in the development of disruptive emerging technologies (synthetic biology, artificial intelligence and neuroscience among others) are giving rise to concerns over their potential misuses and malicious uses. It is therefore primordial to understand how we can unlock the full potential of these technologies in a way which maximizes their positive influence on international security. This discussion gathers a panel composed of the GCSP’s three Polymath Fellows in synthetic biology, artificial intelligence and neuroscience, along with a Graduate Institute Professor in International Law, to discuss these technologies’ beneficial applications and explore the ways in which they can be used to bolster international security and minimize their potential harm.

Speakers

• Dr Jean-Marc Rickli, Head of Global and Emerging Risks and Polymath Initiative, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
• Dr Kevin Esvelt, Assistant Professor at MIT Media Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Polymath Fellow, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
• Dr Sandra Scott-Hayward, Senior Lecturer, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast; Polymath Fellow, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
• Dr Ricardo Chavarriaga, Head of the Swiss office of the Confederation of Laboratories for AI Research in Europe; Senior researcher, Zürich University of Applied Sciences; Polymath Fellow, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
• Dr Paola Gaeta, Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies