Computers that Talk and Listen 1: Getting on with Tech
This webinar will investigate the technical, ethical and regulatory dimensions of computers that talk and listen.
Not unlike financial literacy, digital literacy has a significant impact on education, employment, civic involvement, and quality of life. For millions of people in Canada, a low rate of digital literacy caps their participation in the digital economy. Individuals of every age, background, education level, immigration and employment status find themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide. As a consequence of digital exclusion, they experience social, economic and cultural exclusion.
In this webinar, we explore computers that can talk and listen to introduce participants to the potential and limitations of digital technologies to solve problems in business and life. Our application examples will include chatbots for customer support and robot companions for the elderly. The goal is to offer participants multiple fun ways to connect with the material and a taste of the thinking and developer competencies necessary to plan and build your own tech products.
Speaker Biography
Dr. Jean-Jacques Rousseauis a Postdoctoral Fellow in Explainability & Trust in AI Systems at the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University. After completing a Ph.D.in Philosophy of Science at the University of Toronto, he was recruited to lead a team that launched the largest tech incubator in the Caribbean region. Throughout his career, he held a number of senior positions, including university teacher, economist, executive advisor, board member and innovation consultant.
Jean-Jacques works at the intersection of tech, entrepreneurship and ideas. He is passionate about the philosophy of science, AI for positive change, and innovation in the Global South. He believes that digital technology can be transformative for human welfare, but to extract its full benefits, we must radically change our views of who deserves a technical education, and what that education can be used for.
Jean-Jacques developed this course for everyone, but with equity deserving communities especially in mind. He hopes this webinar will welcome learners from a wide range of interests, backgrounds and life experiences into the world of tech ‘under the hood’.