Beta festival aims to bring together diverse publics to engage critically with technology's impact on society, this year we are introducing a new series called “Assembly” which takes a topic and interrogates it with a part curated and part open discussion. This year that topic will be artificial intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence has been a part of our everyday technology use for sometime however the explosion of generative AI tools has made it even more prevalent. At national and international level there are a series of policies and regulations being developed in relation to the use of AI from Ireland’s own National Artificial Intelligence Strategy to the EU AI Act. But what is the potential impact of this technology on the arts and cultural sector? And how can we interpret these policies in relation to our sector? The arts are frequently held up in the media as an example of industry that will be affected positively and negatively and yet we do not yet have protections in place for artists and cultural workers.

From copyright and IP to funding and production - This assembly intends to explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the arts and cultural sector and identify challenges and opportunities bringing together artists, AI researchers and policy makers. This session will not provide the answers but will provide us with a rolling agenda of areas for discussion when it comes to creating policy.

This event will be run as a conversation based workshop with each table led by a cultural facilitator and an expert in AI. Table leads include: Martin Clancy (AI:OK), Denise McDonagh (Culture Works/ Arts Council), Aisling Phelan (D.A.T.A.), Paul O’Neill (Huston School of Film and Digital Media / ADAPT Centre for AI)

Image credit: Adrien Limousin / Better Images of AI / Non-image / CC-BY 4.0