On Thursday, July 14th, we will be co-hosting an online seminar with the U.S. Consulate-General in Sapporo.Creating a Gender-Equal Society with AI: A Look at the Future of Education in Berkeley, USA"has been held.
Our lecturer was Professor Noriyuki Mima, who was involved in the establishment of the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) and is currently a professor at Future University Hakodate and a visiting researcher at the University of California, Berkeley.
This seminar was held with the expectation that it would allow participants to think and discuss, together with the participants, the relationship between science and technology and society, and the responsibility of humans who use technology, in a situation where the use of AI in society is indispensable, based on Professor Mima's long-standing research in his field of study, "Learning Science (research that integrates knowledge from information engineering, cognitive psychology, and education)."
Report
Professor Mima spoke about the importance of reflecting diverse opinions in order to create a just society, the need to create a society where people can participate, and the importance of individuals considering what they can do.
Furthermore, they discussed the mechanisms and challenges of living in the age of AI, using relatable examples.
Furthermore, we received many valuable comments, such as, "The one thing AI still can't match humans in is the ability to empathize," "There are things you can see by putting yourself in different worlds, and there isn't just one standard, but diverse perspectives," and "To design your own future and the future of society, I want you to put into practice these two things: 'Hold a magic wand (I want everyone to have opportunities to learn and the ability to continue learning)' and 'Get on the bus when it comes (Take advantage of opportunities when they arise)'."
After the seminar, an after-talk session was held, in which Professor Mima, along with Professor Nagahori, a specially appointed professor at the university's Diversity and Inclusion Promotion Headquarters (who served as facilitator), and Mr. Terashita, Public Relations and Planning Officer at the U.S. Consulate-General in Sapporo, answered questions from the participants, resulting in a lively and engaging discussion.
This seminar was attended by 92 people, and approximately 40 people also watched the after-talk session. The high level of interest in the topic of "AI and gender equality" was evident, and many participants commented that they learned a great deal from Professor Mima's remarks, making it a very worthwhile event.
