Artificial Intelligence: How Soon Might Humans Be Replaced At Work?

There has been talk of robots taking our jobs for ages. But did you know that they already are?

Software that can learn, adapt to its environment and carry out jobs from writing sports reports to answering legal queries is already a reality. A recent Oxford University paper, for example, argued that around 50% of jobs in America were at risk from artificial intelligence. Is yours?

Join us and our Chairman Tom Clarke, Science Editor of Channel4 News, for a free public debate on the proposition that: “This House believes it is inevitable that, within 25 years, a patent will be filed and granted without human intervention.” Listen to our experts argue about whether, or how quickly, computer algorithms might arise that are capable of complicated human-like reasoning and judgement.

Speaking for the proposition will be Chrissie Lightfoot, lawyer, entrepreneur, AI commentator, futurist and author of Tomorrow's Naked Lawyer: New Tech, New Human, New Law and Calum Chace, author of the AI novel   Pandora’s Brain  and the non-fiction book,   Surviving AI . Speaking against the proposition will be Nigel Hanley, a Senior Patent Examiner at the Intellectual Property Office and Patent Attorney Ilya Kazi, a partner at leading intellectual property firm, Mathys & Squire.

The event will be streamed live and later made available on YouTube. After the main debate there will be a Q&A with the panel - come along and get involved! 

The debate is supported by the New Scientist and is sponsored by leading patent search company Patent Seekers.