Nell Watson

Contributing Researcher, The Institute for Ethical AI & Machine Learning
Co-Founder & Chief of Innovation, QuantaCorp
Senior Scientific Advisor to The Future Society's AI Initiative
Apple, Executive Consultant Philosopher
Chair, ECPAIS Transparency Experts Focus Group, IEEE Standards Association
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
MTP: To build towards a world where technology is assuredly applied in a humane manner.
Inquire About Nell

Eleanor ‘Nell’ Watson is an interdisciplinary researcher in emerging technologies such as machine vision and A.I. ethics. Her work primarily focuses on protecting human rights and putting ethics, safety, and the values of the human spirit into technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.

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Nell serves as Chair & Vice-Chair respectively of the IEEE’s ECPAIS Transparency Experts Focus Group, and P7001 Transparency of Autonomous Systems committee on A.I. Ethics & Safety, engineering credit score-like mechanisms into A.I. to help safeguard algorithmic trust.

She also chairs EthicsNet.org, a community teaching prosocial behaviors to machines, CulturalPeace.org, crafting Geneva Conventions-style rules for cultural conflict, Endohazard.org, a hazard symbol project for informing consumers of endocrine disruptors, and Pacha.org, connecting a network of service providers to help enable the automated accounting of externalities (shifted costs) such as pollution.

Nell serves as an Executive Consultant on philosophical matters for Apple, as well as serving as Senior Scientific Advisor to The Future Society, and Senior Fellow to The Atlantic Council. She also holds Fellowships with the British Computing Society and Royal Statistical Society, among others.

Her public speaking has inspired audiences to work towards a brighter future at venues such as The World Bank, The United Nations General Assembly, and The Royal Society.

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Topics

HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING WITH A.I.

Machine Intelligence is as big a disruption as electricity was in the 20th century. It can seem confusing and hard to implement. This talk gives an overview of various terms and concepts, a timeline running from the past to the near future, and a crash course on how to practically implement AI within your business to create new opportunities.

BUILDING NEW INSTITUTIONS: THE STRONGER SOCIETY TO COME

How can we use the energy of change to move ahead and make the most of the silver linings in dark societal clouds. Newly decentralized and strengthened societal institutions are arising with great effect on business, travel, environment, work, globalisation and legislation. A peek into the mid-term future which is still full of possibilities powered by essential technologies.

AI & REALITY PERCEPTION

Artificial Intelligence is becoming incredibly sophisticated, able to manipulate people’s impressions of events and the news that they hear. Crucially, there is plausible deniability, the suggestions that an algorithm just happened to make a decision of a prediction without human design or intention behind it. This talk explores where technology and society may be heading next, in a scenario where individuals who are targeted for political reasons may find that their perceptions of reality itself are toyed with by the hidden and deniable ‘glitches’ of machine intelligence – a literal ghost in the machine.

HUMANIZING MACHINES

Intelligent machines are beginning to understand the needs, drives, and even values of humanity, with huge opportunities for each of our lives and our global society. These technologies can transform our communities, making our world more safe and secure, and helping us to manage precious resources in new ways. how can we make the most of these capabilities, and ensure that the spirit and wisdom of the human isn’t lost in a sea of cold algorithms? How can we retain our humanity, whilst growing past our greatest weaknesses?

Testimonials

“A powerful, informative, innovative, thoughtful, and thoroughly-inspiring presentation.”

- N.I. Chamber

“Wow! What an inspiring presentation: thought-provoking and enjoyable.”

- E. K.

“Thank you for the impeccable presentation. You are an amazing speaker and the entire audience was spellbound listening to you talk.”

- D. B.

“Rare to hear an AI expert with such profound cultural & social understanding as Nell Watson.”

- M. J.

“The energy levels at the event were sky-high; fantastic feedback from attendees. It was a genuinely provocative, and brilliantly presented talk – you could hear a pin drop in the room.”

- I. R.

“We were very happy with Nell Watson. She was really impressive with many pertinent examples, and really thought about what would be relevant to us. Very happy with it!”

- S. J.

“Nell Watson blew the whole crowd away with intelligence, humanity, insight, and complex thinking. Just epic. The world needs more Nell.”

- P. T.

“Amazing presentation by Nell Watson. Her lessons for the future have left me both humbled and inspired.”

- J. S.

“Shout out to Nell Watson, who delivered an incredibly captivating and polished keynote that had the attention of the whole auditorium.”

- T. P.

“What an amazing finish by Nell Watson. Too many amazing ideas! An absolute inspiration.”

- D. H.

“Best presentation of the whole day. THE most amazing, inspiring speaker, with a smart, eloquent call for a renaissance of the heart. Thank you!”

- J. J.

“A huge thank you to Nell – Her talk was fascinating and she was such an engaging speaker. Our Chair was delighted to work with Nell and they made an excellent double act.”

- A. B.

“Nell put each person in an envelope in which knowledge and insights have been lavishly scattered around. The interview afterwards also testified of expertise. Giving a talk is one thing; giving a Q &A afterwards and giving new insights is something else. In a busy world full of stimuli and speed, Nell’s talk was a relief, a resting point, a moment of pure contemplation.”

- M. V.

“Our group could not stop raving about not only how fascinating and helpful Nell’s ideas were, but also how clear and elegantly conveyed they were—even extemporaneously! They were dazzled!”

- K. C.

“It genuinely was the most inspirational and forward-facing session I’ve seen in 25+ years.”

- M. C.
Contributing Researcher, The Institute for Ethical AI & Machine Learning
Co-Founder & Chief of Innovation, QuantaCorp
Senior Scientific Advisor to The Future Society's AI Initiative
Apple, Executive Consultant Philosopher
Chair, ECPAIS Transparency Experts Focus Group, IEEE Standards Association
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
MTP: To build towards a world where technology is assuredly applied in a humane manner.
Inquire About Nell
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