Futures and Dialogue

Technology Pathways and Meaningful Innovation

Listening to public voice about how technology can be developed for a better future

Overview

This programme aims to stimulate and contribute to debates and actions that will help to better align the role of technologies, the groups that shape them and the people that use them.

It will enable meaningful iterative dialogue between a range of stakeholders about emerging technologies and their potential social impacts, generating insights for those who create the pathways for technology change.

It also aims to promote greater inclusivity in the creation of those pathways, with the aim of enabling better socio-technical innovation, and better outcomes: meaningful and practical steps towards a just transition to net zero, an inclusive economy and sustainable society.

Three initial scoping and foresight pilots were commissioned in 2023 to explore the gaps and trends in existing public dialogue around the transition to Net Zero; future technology trends and opportunities; and future societal needs, impacts and relationships. These pilots are helping to inform the Academy’s plans for emerging engagement and dialogue activities.

People's AI stewardship summits

The People's AI Stewardship Summits are a series of public dialogue events bringing together members of the public with experts, innovators, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to explore hopes, fears and expectations of AI to enable positive change and improve people's lives. The events are held in partnership with, and co-hosted by, the Academy's Regional Enterprise Hubs to create a unique space for stakeholders to listen to local members of the communities in which they are based. We held summits across five UK cities Belfast, Glasgow, Swansea, Liverpool and London.

Each summit produced unique opinions, video interviews and reports showcasing what each local community felt about AI at a particular time. 

Learn more about the summits

As an individual in A&E, would you care about AI taking away a learning experience from a junior doctor? Or would you just want the best possible care?

Anything a human can get wrong, an AI can get wrong faster and at scale.