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This event invites participants from all disciplines and backgrounds to come together, fostering interdisciplinary connections and discussions.

Talk Title: Autonomous Machines as Moral Arbiters 

Artificial Intelligence has enabled the automation of cognitive tasks. The more able autonomous machines are, and the more they share the same environment as us, the more they need to be enabled to have moral abilities: moral judgment, moral reasoning and moral decision-making. In the last 25 years, the field of machine ethics has been concerned with developing these machine abilities. Machine ethics requires knowledge from moral philosophy, moral psychology, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, computer science and autonomous systems. What kind of a moral agent should machines be and whose idea of morality should they implement? This talk presents a broad, multi-disciplinary, description of advancements, challenges and open questions in machine ethics.

Speaker Biography:

Marija Slavkovik is a full Professor with the Faculty for Social Sciences of the University of Bergen. She is currently a Leverhulme Visiting Professor. with the Autonomy and Verification Group (Uni.Manchester). Her background is in computer science and artificial intelligence. She has been doing research in machine ethics since 2012. Marija works on formalising ethical collective decision-making. She has held held several seminars, tutorials and graduate courses on AI ethics. Her publications and other activities can be found below:

Connect with the Centre for Digital Trust and Society

The Centre for Digital Trust and Society organises the DTS Guest Seminar Series and is a focal point for research across the University of Manchester that explores aspects of trust and security in our digital world. The Centre is part of Digital Futures, a highly interdisciplinary network which operates across the whole range of the University of Manchester's digital research.

About Digital Futures:

Digital Futures is a highly interdisciplinary network that operates across the whole range of the University’s digital research. We aim to present a coherent overview of The University of Manchester's digital research activity to external stakeholders and bring together research communities to explore new research areas and address strategic opportunities.

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Free
9 December 2025 13:00 - 15:00 In Person
The University of Manchester

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What we doDigital Futures brings together over 1700 researchers from different disciplines across all three of the University’s faculties into multidisciplinary communities to tackle important research problems, build critical mass in new and emerging research areas and to work with external stakeholders to support Greater Manchester's ambitions as a leading digital city.We bring our knowledge to bear on the great issues facing the world in the 21st century, exploring the complex interplay between scientific, engineering, social, wealth creation, and quality of life concerns. We are able to combine disciplines and capabilities to meet both the challenges of leading-edge research and the external demands of government, business and communities.DF FILM - https://www.digitalfutures.manchester.ac.uk/about-us/ How we can help youCome along to one of our external events or get in touch with academics from our 13 theme areas linked below.You can contact our team directly at digitalfutures@manchester.ac.uk to find out more about how we can work together.ThemesDigital SkillsFrom enabling individuals to transforming and driving industries, digital skills underpin our 21st century lives. Ranging from essential Digital Skills for Life and for work through to advanced technical skills for innovation, this theme focuses on how The University of Manchester will work with students, colleagues, employers and other education providers to identify and deliver the digital skills needed to support and responsibly transform the global workplace.”Topics:- pathways to lifelong learning- recognition and accreditation of digital skills- co creation of skills and content with industry- embedding digital skills in education and the workplace.Heath and CareDigital health brings together eHealth (digital processes in healthcare data) and mHealth, which enables these processes through mobile and digital technologies. The Digital Futures Health & Care theme's activities are delivered through the Christabel Pankhurst Institute for Health Technology Research and Innovation and through the Greater Manchester Connected Health Ecosystem. Cities and EnvironmentDigital technologies, including sensor networks, data analytics and agile control systems, have the potential to transform cities, and the lives of those who live and work in them.   Employment and ProductivityAddressing the potential for economic growth; the disruption of existing business models; and the impact of digital platforms and automation on patterns of employment and the future of work.  Industry 5.0Industry 5.0 is the integration of smart, connected, and autonomous digital and physical technologies like IoT and robotics with AI and value-adding human strengths in problem-solving and creativity.  Citizens and DemocracyExploring the nature of contemporary digital citizenship and democracy and understanding how it is transforming individuals' civic and political behaviour.  CreatechExploring the transformational impact of digital technologies ranging from digital preservation to virtual and augmented reality on the arts, education, community and heritage. Data Science and AIThe Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence acts as an access point to the University's expertise in data science.  Digital Trust and SecurityAs we become increasingly dependent on digital technology, it's critical to understand whether we can trust the security and resilience of the systems we use and the people we interact with.   Human-centred DesignIncreasingly sophisticated automation means that everything we design, from cars to personal digital assistants, to algorithms, must have human understanding, behaviour and ethics at the centre.  Social Media and NetworksCommunication has been revolutionised. The implications of this are profound in many ways, affecting societies, cultures, politics, economics, science and media. Internet of ThingsInternet of Things (IoT) technology plays a crucial role in digital transformation across a range of sectors, providing the link between the physical and digital worlds. Policy and InnovationUnlocking the potential of digital transformation across many areas will require changes in public and business policy, regulation and regional investment.The University of Manchester is part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities, with outstanding facilities and the widest range of courses. 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