How the Digital Revolution Challenges Our Humanity

We are witnessing an unprecedented pace of technological development, with new breakthroughs in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) almost every day. Meanwhile, many earlier innovations such as smartphones and social networks – once hailed as revolutionary – are now facing criticism for their serious negative impacts, including a rise in mental health problems, especially in children and young people. As a result, a global ‘awakening’ seems to be taking place: many European countries are increasingly regulating the use of smartphones in schools, Australia has banned social networking sites for under-16s, and key legislation is being drafted in the United States to protect children from online risks. However, attempts to regulate children’s use of smartphones and social networks have largely been too late. Can we learn from this and be proactive this time in the face of the growing enthusiasm for artificial intelligence? How will new technologies such as generative AI and AI agents transform not only our digital world, but also our sense of self and the way we learn and develop as human beings?

The event will explore selected anthropological, ethical, social and existential questions that arise in these rapid digital shifts – and ask the question: how can we maintain our humanity in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.