From AI tools to AI agents and beyond - Tiberio Caetano of Gradient Institute

Tiberio's talk will examine the often unquestioned assumption that AI is merely a tool to assist humans in achieving their goals. While AI can certainly manifest as a tool, is it accurate to say all AI is only a tool? Do certain types of AI possess properties that fundamentally conflict with any reasonable definition of a tool? Can AI agents still be considered tools? What exactly are AI agents, and what are their current and potential future manifestations? Can humans lose control of AI agents? Can AI agents be or become moral agents? Can they be conscious? Why should we engage with these questions now? In this talk, Tiberio will explore these and related questions.

Bio:
Tiberio has been working in AI for 25 years. He was an AI researcher at NICTA (now Data61) for a decade. He's held academic appointments at the ANU, UNSW and the University of Sydney. He co-founded an AI company (Ambiata) which was later acquired by IAG. He co-founded Gradient Institute, a nonprofit research institute focusing on the responsible and safe development and use of AI. Tiberio is currently Gradient Institute's chief scientist and also an honorary professor at the ANU.