Authenticity & Humanity
Combined Session
Friday, June 07, 2024 10:30—11:30
Location: B 05
Friday, June 07, 2024 10:30—11:30
Location: B 05
Maurice Ravel's Boléro is one of the world’s most well-known classical pieces, in part due to its simplicity: eighteen minutes of repeated rhythms and melodies make it easy to grasp.
But in the midst of that clarity, Boléro holds demanding questions for the listener. Written in the aftermath of the First World War, it sees the dangers of automation and technology—and inquires if humanity can avoid being assimilated into the march of the machine. Ultimately, Boléro asks the hearer two questions: “What is authentic humanity?” and “Can authentic humanity survive the modern world?”
These questions still resonate almost one hundred years later. The recent rise of automation in the form of generative AI shows great promise, but also presents similar challenges to 1928. The rush to adopt this new technology is eroding authenticity not just in biometric authentication and identity, but in writing, in art, and in other activities long thought to be the prerogative of humanity. In response, we must reexamine what it means to remain "authentically human" amidst the drumbeat of innovation.
Through one person's experience in losing and recovering Boléro, we'll explore the questions that Ravel's masterpiece presents and propose ways in which identity can safeguard authentic humanity.
In order for digital identity initiatives to be successful and sustainable, they have to place people and their societal values at the center of their architecture. This means following the principles of human-centered design, inclusion, privacy-by-design, and ethics while building easy-to-use systems that seamlessly enable access to services while combating fraud and theft. But what happens when these principles end up in conflict with each other? How do we, as identity practitioners, navigate the challenge of building for the world that people actually live in, not the one we wished they lived in - and the dilemmas that creates for us? In this talk, the presenter will lay out some of the trends and drivers he is seeing in global projects that surface these quandaries for which no blueprint currently exists. He will also describe some of the design debates that take place as a result between stakeholders, and detail possible approaches to tackle these issues when they inevitably land on your desk.
The advent of AI cloning technology presents a transformative opportunity for businesses to enhance customer service and empower their teams. By creating digital clones of key personnel, organizations can offer personalized, 24/7 customer interaction, drastically reducing wait times and improving satisfaction. Furthermore, AI clones can facilitate seamless knowledge transfer and decision-making processes within teams, ensuring consistency and efficiency. This talk unpacks the potential of AI cloning in revolutionizing customer service and internal team dynamics, highlighting ethical considerations, implementation challenges, and real-world success stories. Discover how leveraging digital identities can not only elevate the customer experience but also foster a more cohesive, informed, and agile workforce in the digital age.
