AI and Our Society

AI and Our Society: Public Forum

How will AI shape the future of our communities and influence the way we live our lives?

Join the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC), in collaboration with AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI), for a free public forum exploring the opportunities, challenges and impact of artificial intelligence on our society.

This event will bring together voices from technology, policy, academia, industry, and civic life to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities that come with the growing use of AI. Through a chaired panel discussion and audience Q&A, we will explore what AI could mean for areas such as public services, healthcare, education, infrastructure, careers, communities, and decision-making.

The forum is designed for a broad public audience. You do not need a technical background to attend.

The aim is to create an open and accessible conversation about how AI can be developed and used in ways that support people, places, and society.

What to expect

• A public panel discussion with invited speakers
• Audience Q&A
• Accessible discussion around the role of AI in society
• Reflections on how AI can support better decision-making, services, and public value
• An opportunity to hear from experts working across AI, policy, research, and industry
  
  

Agenda

17.30 - 18.00: Doors open (light refreshments)

18.00 - 18.10: Event welcome by David Crozier CBE, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC)

18.10 - 19.40: Panel discussion and Q&A. Panel members:

• Lorraine Acheson, Independent Strategy & Policy Adviser
• Patricia O'Hagan MBE, CEO Core Systems (NI)
• Mark Lee, Acting Deputy Secretary for Economic Policy Group, Department for the Economy NI
• Kathryn Harkin, Head of AI Northern Ireland, NTT DATA
• Professor Michaela Black, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Ulster University

19.40 - 19.45: Event close

Photography and video will be taken during the event.

About the organisers

AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI)

AI for Collective Intelligence, known as AI4CI, is a UKRI National AI Research Hub involving seven universities and more than forty stakeholder partners across academia, government, charities, and industry.

The Hub focuses on how AI can help society gather, understand, and act on information more effectively. Its work explores how AI can support decision-making at different levels, from individuals and organisations to communities and national systems.

AI4CI’s research addresses major societal challenges across areas including environmental intelligence, financial stability, healthcare ecosystems, human-centred design, infrastructure and governance, pandemic resilience, and smart city design.

AI Collaboration Centre (AICC)

The AI Collaboration Centre is a pioneering £16.3 initiative led by Ulster University, in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast. Their mission is to advance awareness and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies among businesses, specifically SMEs, across Northern Ireland.

Supported by Invest Northern Ireland and the Department for the Economy NI, they aim to enhance competitiveness, boost productivity, and promote the ethical and responsible use of AI across diverse industries. Their vision is to accelerate AI adoption within SMEs, build AI skills capacity, foster collaboration, and drive innovation across key sectors, creating meaningful impact.