10 Break-Out Sessions
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AI Knowledge Place – Questioning the role of AI in the future
For the Leaders of Tomorrow (LoT), the St. Gallen Symposium started on the Wednesday with a full day dedicated to their ideas. Entitled “AI Knowledge place”, the day was centred around the ideas of the essayists that did not make the final cut but deserved to be put forward. Along with the three Main Partners for this day – ABB, Accenture, and Swiss Re – the LoTs spent the day brainstorming, debating and discussing the growing influence of AI and the impact on the labour market.
Sessions were firstly held by executives of ABB, Accenture and Swiss Re on different topics related to AI and its effect on their own branch. From talks on policy-makers’ approach to new technology to marketing in the robot age, the venue was flooding with ideas and fascinating discussions inspiring the LoTs for the afternoon’s session held by their peers. Indeed, 9 essayists had the privilege to hold their own session on their answer to the question “Robots are coming for your job: how do you augment yourself to stay economically relevant?” At the end of the afternoon, the nine finalists pitched their ideas in front of the crowd, where the three bests were rewarded with the chance to present their ideas in a unique setting as well as in front of the panellists of the Closing Session.
Matthew Hinson (US), Master Candidate in Law and Politics at Columbia University, challenged the current diplomacy system following the idea developed in his essay “Augmented Human Diplomacy: Adapting to Artificial Intelligence in Global Politics”. His bold statements on how to address the two major global crisis that are international migration and the threat of a multipolar world were followed by the presentation of his solution of “Augmented Human Diplomacy” to solve them.
Daniel Sawyer (US), a California Institute of Technology student pursuing a PhD in Science, imagined his future as a scientist and what it would take to safeguard his chosen profession against creative AI in his essay “Saving scientific creativity by enhancing human empathy”. Citing empathy and creative collaboration as the main tool to avoid workforce obsolescence, he discussed his strategy to teach those two skills with the help of a device that facilitates reliable communication of subjective human experience using relational frame theory.
In his essay “Self-Sufficient Agriculture in the Age of Automation”, Rico Joey Massa (CA), Master Candidate in Engineering at McGill University, addressed the matter of food security and how to tackle it. His sharp comment on the benefits of agriculture self-sufficiency as a result of the increasing technology and knowledge on the subject, could be an alternative to people losing their job to machines.
The three young men convinced the public with their innovative approach of the future of work and the development of their ideas. Watch below the other ideas discussed throughout the day and some of the key takeaway.
The best pitchers had the chance to present their ideas in front of a jury in a very special place to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the St. Gallen Wings of Excellence Award. Kept as a surprise until the very last, the closing session of the day took place at the Kybun Park, the football stadium home of the St. Gallen Football Club (see above). Sawyer, Hinson, and Massa presented their ideas in front of a jury constituted of Grant Allen (US), Managing Director and Head of Venture at ABB Technology Venture, Nigel Fretwell (GB), Chief Human Resources Officer of Swiss Re, Dileep George (US), Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Vicarious Inc., and Ruchika Sachdeva (IN), Managing Director of Data Science Practice and Applied Intelligence at Accenture. The night was filled with inspiring ideas and discussions on the future of work and the role if AI in it.
Artificial intelligence holds tremendous potential for solving pressing social issues. Humans need to learn to adapt to it and start working with new technologies in order to increase the likelihood of a friendly future cohabitation. Education and Policies, among other, need to be adapted and awareness has to be raised on the potential negative effect of such technology. There are many steps left before we reach level of intelligence as seen in the movie Ex-Machina but right now, AI should not be feared but rather met with open arms since it holds the greatest potential to solve some of the challenges society is bound to face in the future. This year’s edition of the LoT programme raised great expectations and hope about the future, while maintaining the reality that there are darker aspects to the question. The LoT were ready to face the next two intense days of the St. Gallen Symposium inspired by a day of fascinating debates and ideas brought forward by their fellow colleagues.
We would like to thank ABB, Accenture, and Swiss Re for supporting our initiative and enabling us to organise years after years, an inspirational and unique days for the Leaders of Tomorrow.
