The 2024 International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS), the flagship conference of the IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology, kicked off Wednesday September 18, 2024, at the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) in Puebla, Mexico. This year’s ISTAS theme is “Social Implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
The day’s events included a welcome keynote from IEEE President Tom Coughlin, delivered virtually, paper presentations, and a featured panel discussion entitled “Evolution of AI – Where are we now and where do we go from here?” The first day’s panel was moderated by SSIT President Luis Kun and was composed of speakers from four additional IEEE technical societies. The panelists were: Jyotika Athavale, president of the IEEE Computer Society (CS), Andrew Laine, former president of the IEEE Engineering, Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS), Fernando Guarin, Distinguished Lecturer and past president of the IEEE Electron Devices Society (EDS), and Juan Manuel Ramirez Cortes, past President of the IEEE Puebla Section, and founding chair of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (I&MS) Puebla Chapter.
Each of the panelists discussed developments in artificial intelligence from the unique perspectives of their technical specialties.
CS president Jyotika Athavale called the conference’s topic a reminder to IEEE members and the technical community that “everything we do has a lasting impact… that extends far beyond the insularity of the scientific community” to encompass the “broader implications” of technology, and in particular artificial intelligence. Athavale noted the “Pandora’s box” being unleashed by technological enhancements related to AI, and applauded the establishment of protocols to properly take advantage of technological progress, for example for managing climate change or for improvements in medical treatment and public health.
“How do we ensure that AI is applied as we intend, for the betterment of humanity?” Athavale asked. “The short answer is that we can’t,” she answered. But she said identifying negative consequences is a first step, and “we also must put out guidance about managing the impacts.” In particular Athavale pointed to the work of standards in providing such guidance. A comprehensive framework is needed, she said, while “preserving the benefits of innovation.”
ISTAS 2024 will continue on September 19 and 20 with many more paper presentations and additional keynotes and panels. Virtual registration for attendees outside of Mexico is still available at https://attend.ieee.org/istas-2024/454-2/.
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