This book talk is part of The Telegraph Oxford Literary Festival 2025, the Oxford Martin School is the Festival Ideas Partner

Computer scientist Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt argues we can avert a disastrous and amoral future by assessing the decisions of artificial intelligence as if they came from a human. Shadbolt says intelligent machines present urgent ethical challenges. Is facial recognition fair? Are automated decisions on finance, health and defence proportionate, equitable, transparent and accountable? How can we use this amazing new technology for good?

Shadbolt says artificial intelligence has none of our essential human qualities but by treating their decisions as if they came from a human we can build a framework for a more ethical machine intelligence.

Shadbolt is Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Ethical Web & Data Architecture and Professor in the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford. He is joint author with academic and public servant Roger Hampson of As If Human: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence.

This is a ticketed event and the tickets are £8 - £15. For more information and to purchase a ticket please visit this website: https://oxfordliteraryfestival.org/literature-events/2025/march-31/as-if-human-ethics-and-artificial-intelligence