Explore the world of AI: what it is, where it’s found, how u3a members use it, and Scotland’s leading role in AI.

Session Outline

This talk is hosted by Alan Freeland, u3a Subject Advisor for AI and Alan Blue from Forth Valley u3a. The talk is in two parts with a break between. Including time for questions and comments the session should last 90minutes.

In the first part Alan Freeland will give an introduction to AI, what makes it different from previous technologies and why it will be as transformational as the Industrial Revolution. We will learn that AI is already everywhere and that we interact with AI everyday. We will look at how u3a members up and down the country are already using AI.

For members who have not seen an AI Chatbot in action Alan will also provide a short live demonstration.

In the second part Alan Freeland will give a short talk about AI in Scotland, from Edinburgh University, the birthplace of AI in Europe with alumni such as Geoffry Hinton, sometimes called the Godfather of ai (https://www.ed.ac.uk/ai/legacy) to leading AI commercial companies such as Speech Graphics used extensively in the computer games industry for lip sync and facial animation, see as an example: https://www.speech-graphics.com/news/south-of-midnight-out-now

If you are interested in continuing your journey of discovering AI in Scotland, Alan Blue will share with us news about his newly formed AI Group in Forth Valley u3a. Alan Blue will also introduce us to other u3a Groups in Scotland with AI activities.

We will have plenty of time for questions and comments.

AI for Everyone

Our AI team’s objective is to acquaint all 430,000 u3a members with AI. If you feel you have the knowledge (completed our online beginners course or equivalent)or are an AI Enthusiast, then please join our ever growing team of AI presenters by contacting Barry (u3a AI Subject Adviser). You can also sign up for our newsletter on the AI for Everyone Network page and explore a range of resources in the AI library

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