The theme of the opening seminar is Humanity in the world of AI – how AI is changing people? The seminar will feature three speeches that will shed light on the different possibilities, uses and impacts of AI on us humans. Katri Saarikivi will introduce the impact of AI on the brain, concentration and empathy. Hannu Toivonen will talk about AI creativity and how AI can be used as a partner and accelerator of creative thinking – not as a substitute. Marko Siitonen discusses the effects of AI that are not considered at the design stage, but will emerge as people start to use AI in its various forms.

The performers will continue to exchange ideas in a discussion moderated by Katri Saarikivi, who will try to find the best possible AI guidelines for us humans. How can we get the best out of AI and avoid its potential negative effects? During the debate, the public will also be able to take part in a recognition contest – can you spot what is AI and what is the product of human minds?

The opening seminar is organised by the City of Jyväskylä, the University of Jyväskylä and Mediatalo Keskisuomalainen.

• Katri Saarikivi

  Katri Saarikivi, PhD in psychology and brain researcher, leads the HUMEX project on the mechanisms of empathy and quality interaction at the Cognitive Brain Research Unit of the University of Helsinki.

• Hannu Toivonen

  Hannu Toivonen is Professor of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki and has been studying artificial intelligence since 1990. For the last 14 years, he has been researching in particular creative AI and has also written an easy-to-read non-fiction book “Mitä tekoäly on? 100 kysymystä ja vastausta” (Teos). In 2023, Toivonen was selected as one of the 100 Finnish IT influencers.

• Marko Siitonen

  Marko Siitonen is Professor of Intercultural and Digital Communication and Head of the Department of Language and Communication Studies at the University of Jyväskylä. He leads the Jyväskylä sub-project of the Academy of Finland-funded consortium “Complex spillovers and constraints of AI and human interaction in work, business and society”.