Highlights: Day 1 Evolution Stage
Dublin Tech Summit took place in the RDS on May 31st and June 1st, 2023.
No sooner has the curtain come down on our seventh Dublin Tech Summit than we have begun looking forward to DTS 24. Have a look back on all of the highlights from the Evolution stage where the focus was AI and humanity.
DTS 23 hosted an impressive 8,000 attendees, with 70 nationalities represented from across the globe. Across the two days, guests were treated to panels, talks and keynotes from 200 speakers, 100 start-ups and even three AI robots.
The tech conference arrived at a crucial time for our sector: The recent industry contraction, and excitement balanced with fear regarding the rapid development of AI endless topics to delve into.
As well as hundreds of world-renowned speakers, the event featured a showcase for 150 amazing start-ups, a podcast booth for in-depth interviews with speakers, Desdemona – a humanoid robot, a pitch competition, a coding challenge and much more.
From Remote to AI: Charting the Future of Work in a Digital World
On the Evolution stage, thought leaders in the digital world discussed the theme, ‘From Remote to AI: Charting the Future of Work in a Digital World.’
Mark Jordan, Chief Strategy Officer, Skillnet Ireland spoke with Tracy Keogh, Co-founder, Grow Remote.
Mark Jordan, CSO, Skillnet, noted, ‘The Skillnet model is one we refer to as industry-led.’ In response to a question on housing and remote working, he noted, ‘the emergence of regional hubs has been somewhat effective and more could be done to make them places that people really want to go.’
The Cybersecurity Conundrum: Balancing Protection with Privacy
Chad Skipper, Global Security Technologist, VMware; Christine Bejerasco, CISO, WithSecure; Onur Korucu, Vice President of Consulting EMEA | WomenTech Global Ambassador | IAPP Ireland Chapter Chair, TerzionDX and Shane Curran, Founder & CEO, Evervault formed a panel moderated by Rebecca Lee, Strategic Director, ClearStory International discussing, ‘The Cybersecurity Conundrum: Balancing Protection with Privacy.’
‘The moment new tech is released, a new threat is introduced,’ Shane Curran, Founder & CEO, Evervault noted, when talking about the rapid development of cyberthreats and the constant race to keep technology robust and up to date.
While Christine Bejerasco, CISO, WithSecure posed the billion-dollar question:
‘How do we build more tech that is easy to use and harder to abuse?’
For Chad Skipper, Global Security Technologist, VMware the answer as to how people can avoid the traps of cyber threats, the answer was simple.
‘Stop clicking on things! You don’t need all those free vouchers and stop storing your passwords in your browser!’
Claudia Gård, COO and Co-founder, Female Friendship App gofrendly
A fireside chat with Claudia Gård, COO and Co-founder, Female Friendship App gofrendly and Rebecca Lee, Strategic Director, ClearStory International was next. They discussed, ‘Founding a Company with a Stranger.’
Claudia Gård noted, ‘It’s super important to always listen to what the other person says because we know they’re coming from a good place when they’re making a decision.’
Driving Profits with Purpose: Sustainability Tech as a Business Model
Next up was a panel discussion delving into a fascinating topic of ‘Driving Profits with Purpose: Sustainability Tech as a Business Model.’
The panel featured a number of high-profile business leaders including Ashley Shak, Senior Innovation Programme Manager, Dogpatch Labs; Dorothy Creaven, VP, Managing Director and Site Lead, Rent the Runway; Janina Bauer, Global Head of Sustainability, Celonis and Sami Marttinen, CEO and Co-Founder, Swappie.
The panel discussion was moderated by Joan Mulvihill, Digitalisation & Sustainability Lead, Siemens.
Sami Marttinen noted, ‘If we could extend the lifespan of the devices, it would be the best way to cut carbon emissions.’
Algorithms Against Humanity
This was an extraordinary discussion that really explored the differing views of the panel and audience. Featuring a panel of experts that included Angelika Sharygina, Political Researcher and Techfugees, Techfugees; Michael Richards, Director of Policy, US Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center and Sean O hEigeartaigh, Director of the AI:Futures and Responsibility Programme, Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge in conversation with Eric Schurenberg, Editor-in-chief, Amplify Publishing Group.
Asked about the potential for AI to cause human extinction, Sean O hEigeartaigh answered, ‘I think it’s a valid concern. The stakes are pretty high so I think it’s worth thinking about.’
Angelika Sharygina, Political Researcher, on the importance of information in the context of war on Ukraine, said: ‘AI can exacerbate the crisis or can help to alleviate the situation.’
Michael Richards, Director Policy, US Chamber of Commerce noted, ‘The laws you create today might not be relevant in time.’
Moderator Eric Schurenberg asked, ‘Should there be a pause in the development of AI?’
Sean Ó hEigeartaigh answered, ‘On the frontier-pushing aspects, there is value in a targeted pause and developing the governance needed for AI.’
Eric Schurenberg asks, do you trust the people leading the charge on AI?
Angelika Sharygina answered, ‘NO. Hands up who trusts the people designing AI? We need to get the balance of power back to the people, not with the tech giants.’
