Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Science Communication Office held its first program on the theme of artificial intelligence within the “Science Cafe” event series which aim to strengthen the relation between society and science. The event titled “Artificial Intelligence: Two Sides of the Coin” took place at Rüstem Bookstore located in Nicosia, featuring Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yıltan Bitirim who interactively discussed the invisible impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on our daily lives and the ethical questions it raises with the participants.
During the event, it was noted that AI has become a technology frequently used across many areas of daily life. The role of AI in daily life—from smartphones and navigation applications to banking systems and healthcare technologies—was examined through various examples.
Alongside with the convenience brought to our lives with AI, contemporary issues such as privacy, data security, algorithmic bias, and governmental regulatory approaches were also discussed. Noting that technology is a tool, Bitirim stated that AI should not act as a “captain,” but rather serve as a “co-pilot” that supports human decision-making processes.
During the event, participants actively engaged in the discussions that received great interest.
The program centered on a key question: “Will technology control us, or will we control technology?” Held in a warm and engaging atmosphere, the event stood as a strong example of the Science Cafe initiative’s goal of bringing science to the wider public outside traditional academic spaces.
EMU Science Communication Office stated that Science Cafe events will continue by focusing on different scientific topics in the upcoming days.