The Curiosity Lecture series returns to the Festival with a line-up of our most thought-stirring speakers delivering one-time talks on topics of intrigue, interest and importance. As artificial intelligence takes root in everything from science and social media to politics and policing, world-leading AI expert Toby Walsh seeks to answer a pressing question: can we trust AI or will it increasingly deceive us? Drawing from his recent essay in Griffith Review 80: Creation Stories, he offers a fascinating perspective on our growing reliance on intelligent and autonomous technology and how we might ensure AI is harnessed as a force for good rather than for nefarious ends.

Supported by UNSW Sydney.

Toby Walsh (Australian)

Toby Walsh

Toby Walsh is Chief Scientist of UNSW's new AI Institute. He is a strong advocate for limits to ensure AI improves our lives, having spoken at the UN, and to heads of state, parliamentary bodies, company boards and many others on this topic. This advocacy has led to him being ‘banned indefinitely’ from Russia. He was named on the international ‘Who's Who in AI’ list of influencers. His most recent book is Machines Behaving Badly: the morality of AI.