Can AI Be More Than a Tool?
Moderated by Sahar El Khoury, PhD in Robotics and Intelligent Systems and Director of Core AI & Data Platforms Strategy, the event began with an exclusive screening of SRF – Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen’s Einstein documentary, where five individuals invited AI companions into their lives for three weeks. This bold experiment set the stage for a thought-provoking discussion about the boundaries of relationships with AI.
The panel featured a global lineup of 10 experts, including Kathrin Hönegger, Co-Host of the Swiss science program Einstein, Andrea Fischli, Science Editor, and Christian Bachmann, Producer of Einstein, representing Switzerland.
At Swissnex in China, Linda Sheng, Head of International Business at MiniMax, one of the world’s leading AI multimodal large model companies, joined us. Swissnex in India was represented by filmmaker Irma Ghufran, whose film “A Terrible Beauty” was recently in competition at Visions du Réel, Festival international de cinéma Nyon, as well as cognitive scientist Ranjith Jaganathan from the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bangalore, whose research covers topics from visual perception to AI ethics. Dasom Lee, an Assistant Professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), shared her expertise in AI regulation and responsible innovation.
Reflections on Technology and Human Connection
Representing Japan, Hidenobu Sumioka and Masahiro Shiomi, both senior researchers at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), spoke about human-robot interaction. They were joined by Goki Kusunoki, CEO of Samansa Inc., whose dating app LOVERSE enables users to interact with AI companions.
The diverse panel and their insights led to a lively discussion about the potential and challenges of integrating AI into personal relationships. Participants left with new perspectives, expressing optimism about AI’s possibilities in fields such as medicine, education, and emotional support. As one participant noted:
I am hopeful that the connection between technology and people has unlimited possibilities in the field of medicine, such as psychological counselling, and early childhood education.
