The Edinburgh Futures Institute’s spring event season, “Love Machine”, ended its run last week with over 3,000 tickets sold.
Our “Love Machine” season ran from 6 March to 5 May, exploring the interconnections of Artificial Intelligence and data with humanity through conversations, performances, and workshops.
Our event season took place alongside the University of Edinburgh’s celebration of 60 years of computer science and AI research and included the fourth Edinburgh Futures Conversation – the Future of AI.
The majority of this season’s free events were offered in hybrid format. Attendees from over 50 countries tuned in to our livestreamed events.
Season highlights
In keeping with the Future Institute’s ethos of co-production and interdisciplinarity, our “Love Machine” event season featured co-created events delivered with artists, researchers, authors and practitioners who explored how AI and machine learning will impact our everyday lives.
The programme featured leading experts in AI in hybrid panels and author conversations. In a number of events, we drew from the expertise of academics and practitioners from across the University, bringing various disciplines in conversation with each other – from the sciences, philosophy, arts, and engineering.
The season offered unique performances, and some world premieres, such as a dynamic dance that featured a soft robot as focal point, a performance event that explored AI and facial recognition, and performances that delved into the use of AI and machine learning in the creation of sound. Participatory workshops explored how to use AI in creative writing and illustration.
All events were free to attend and open to the wider public. The hybrid format of the majority of events reflects the Future Institute’s commitment to ensure that our events are open to all and support our model of fusion learning (a fusion of online and on-campus learning which supports a diverse and globally connected classroom). Following feedback from our first season we are experimenting with running events at different times of the day in order make the season even more accessible.
Looking forward
The Futures Institute thanks everyone who made the “Love Machine” season a success – our partners, speakers, performers, and attendees from all over the world.
Edinburgh Futures Institute Director Chris Speed said:
“Thank you to everyone who supported this recent season of events from the Futures Institute. For me, the Love Machine, which ran alongside an increasingly important public conversation about the benefits and perils of AI and machine learning, really did what we’re saying we want to do at the University of Edinburgh. Which is to engage new audiences and participants in creative, collaborative and urgent discussions about the big challenges of our futures. I’m excited to see what comes next!”
Further information
Find out more about the Edinburgh Futures Conversations
Explore 60 Years of Computer Science and AI at the University of Edinburgh
