The Sevenoaks u3a Science Group held a seminar entitled AI in Action at The Orchard Centre, East Malling, on 4 June. Three aspects of AI were covered in the presentations: AI and Urban Food Mapping for Sustainable Food Production by Dr Howard Lee of Hadlow College; Large Language Models and the Future of Healthcare by Prof Julia Ive of University College London; and Sociological and Ethical Implications of AI by Dr Blay Whitby, recently retired from Sussex University.
The 100 attendees, drawn from a number of u3as across Kent as well as Sevenoaks, engaged in a lively discussion of the opportunities, benefits and the potential dangers of AI, both now and in the future. Whilst recognising AI’s huge potential, concerns were raised about its development being in the hands of an “elite” and their commercial operations; the comparative immaturity of the technology; and the lack of any regulation around safety or constraints on misuse.