What it Means to be a Machine: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Future of Humanity-Machine Coexistence

What does it mean to be a machine in a world increasingly shaped by intelligent, autonomous agents performing complex human skills? This panel challenges leaders to rethink the traditional view of technology as a mere tool, inviting the audience to consider how autonomous self-learning algorithms (Agent AI/AGI) in multi-sensory devices (IoT/Robots) perceive their roles and impact on productivity, business efficiency, governance, ethics, sustainability, and coexistence.

This panel will address several critical challenges:
1. How do we define the rights and responsibilities of autonomous AI systems?
2. What governance structures are needed to regulate their actions?
3. How do we prepare for scenarios where AI CEOs or autonomous systems hold critical decision-making power?
4. Who governs, hires, or even retires machines that outperform humans in knowledge, productivity,  and control over resources?
Blending futuristic thinking with real-world implications, this session seeks to equip leaders with the insights needed to navigate the complex relationship between humanity and machines.

Speakers

Neal Cross

Neal Cross

Co-founder, PictureWealth

Dr. Justine Lacey

Dr. Justine Lacey

Research Director, CSIRO

Prof. Charles Gretton

Prof. Charles Gretton

Associate Professor, ANU School of Computing

Moderator

Sopnendu Mohanty

Sopnendu Mohanty

Group Chief Executive Officer, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)