• A public lecture in Canberra on Tuesday 23 April will ponder whether the AI revolution will propel humanity to a higher level of civilisation, or result in a techno-dystopia that threatens human existence

A leading Charles Sturt University theological academic will challenge his public lecture audience to consider the many ethical issues arising from the seemingly unstoppable rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

The 2024 Forum Series public lecture is a co-presentation by Christians for an Ethical Society (CES) and the Charles Sturt Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture (ACCC).

Interim Executive Director of the ACC&C Dr Jonathan Cole (pictured, inset) will speak on the topic ‘The AI Revolution: benefits, harms and the fate of human existence’ at this  public lecture at 7pm on Tuesday 23 April at the Chambers Pavilion, within the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Blackall Street (corner of Kings Avenue), Barton, Canberra, ACT.

Among other notable attributes, Dr Cole is a co-author of the discussion paper ‘How AI is changing democracy’, published by Maxim Institute (August 2023).

Dr Cole said recent breakthroughs in AI technology, such as ChatGPT, have prompted furious public discussion about the potential benefits and harms of humanity’s rapid adoption of new AI technologies.

“There is much speculation, as well as prophesying, that humanity is nearing the dawn of epoch-making artificial general intelligence,” Dr Cole said.

“Some fear that AI will eventually reach a level of superhuman capability that could pose an existential threat to human existence itself.

“With enormous investment and intense competition in the development of AI technologies, the one certainty is that AI will become a greater and greater part of human life, impacting all important dimensions of human existence, from entertainment and work to education and politics.

“Will humanity’s AI revolution propel humanity to a higher level of civilisation, as techno-optimists believe? Or will it result in a techno-dystopia that threatens human existence, as pessimists fear?”

The forum will be chaired by Mr Clive Rodgers (Chair of CES) and seeks to encourage discussion from the floor. The CES is an autonomous mainstream Christian organisation. A donation is welcome. For more information contact CES secretary Ms Ann Skamp on secretary@ces.org.au.

Dr Cole has a PhD in Christian political theology (Charles Sturt University, 2019), an MA specialising in Middle Eastern politics and Islamic theology (Australian National University, 2007) and a BA (Honours) in Modern Greek language and history (La Trobe University, 2000).

Prior to embarking on an academic career in 2014, Dr Cole worked as an intelligence analyst for the Australian Government, first at the Defence Signals Directorate and then at the Office of National Assessments, where he worked on Islamist terrorism.