“Artificial Intelligence: The Leading Force of Disruption in Politics, Media, Technology, and Beyond… Laughter Included!”

“How AI Is Upending Politics, Tech, the Media, and More”

“In a year of unprecedented events, WIRED’s annual AI summit took place on a virtual stage. Instead of congregating in San Francisco, speakers from around the world dialed in from their living rooms, kitchens, and home offices. The topics were as wide-ranging as ever: the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 election, the future of work, how to tackle deepfake videos, and the promise and peril of artificial intelligence.”

Ah, the melodious sound of dial tones and muffled ‘you’re on mute’ reminders. Such were the sights and sounds from the latest edition of WIRED’s annual AI summit. Unlike previous years, where the lingering aroma of coffee filled packed conference rooms, this year’s event was brought to you courtesy of our own home offices, kitchens, and sofas. And yes, much like everything else in 2020, it was a touch more ‘unprecedented’ than we would’ve liked.

From the comfort of our socially distanced workspaces, we explored a rich tapestry of topics. We delved deep into the impacts of the pandemic, peered into the crystal ball to debate the future of work, and even took a shot at unmasking the chameleon that is deepfake videos. But naturally, our crowning glory lay in discussions surrounding the delights and dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). No tech event can truly be complete without some hearty AI chat now, can it?

The intricacies of the 2020 US election also found themselves under the microscope. Now, there’s a topic most likely to evoke a collective sigh reverberating across our home-office land. But fear not, we were equal parts inquisitive and prudent. Understanding the role of technology in an election year as, shall we say, ‘interesting’ as this one, was a challenge accepted and relished.

In the words of the great philosopher, Anonymous, “life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.” Apparently, neither do global pandemics or elections—or technology summits for that matter. Nevertheless, we endeavored to make sense of the world, using our digital platform to dissect, analyze, and speculate about our rapidly-changing landscape.

So there you have it, the WIRED AI Summit, delivered straight to your digital doorstep. Give us a virtual pat on the back the next time you find yourself leisurely scrolling through your socials, sipping your home-brewed coffee. Hopefully, next year we can replace the dial tones with handshakes, and the loungewear with lanyards. Until then, keep those mute buttons handy and the coffee brewing. We’re all in this (virtual) world together.

Read the original article here: https://www.wired.com/story/wired-ai-summit-tech-politics-media/