With the growth of artificial intelligence in recent years, the question has arisen as to whether it can become capable of learning human wisdom as conveyed by our ancestors past.
This central theme is the focus of an upcoming event titled ‘Wisdom, and the Rise of Intelligent Machines’, which will synthesise a talk, a play performance and interactive discussion on this increasingly relevant topic.
The event, which is part of this year’s Greek Festival of Sydney, will be held on Wednesday April 10, 7.30pm, at the Greek Theatre – Mantouridion in Marrickville.
It will open with a talk from Dr Edward Spence, an Honorary Associate in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Sydney, raising his thoughts on the topic of artificial intelligence following the rise of AI agents like ChatGPT, Bard, and Pi.
In his lecture, he will draw from Greek philosophy and discuss how ancient teachings can provide valuable insights on the role of wisdom in our lives.
Building on this, he will also address the central question of whether AI will be capable of truly acquiring wisdom akin to the level shown by philosophers like Socrates.
“We are at a crucial juncture where technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, raising profound questions about the nature of wisdom and its relationship with artificial intelligence,” Dr. Spence said in a media release for this event.
“By examining the timeless wisdom of ancient Greek philosophy, we can gain invaluable insights into navigating the complexities of our modern, AI-driven world.”
Following Dr Spence’s talk will be a performance of his play “Logos Unbound”, which will feature performances from actors Werddan Khouri, Myriam Khouri and Leo Ellinas.
The event, which is being directed by Nino LoGuidice and managed by Kaye Spence, will then conclude with an interactive discussion between the audience and Dr Spence to delve deeper into this topic.
