Who should attend
The Winter Workshop is for everyone! Whether you’re a student learning the fundamentals, a professional staying on top of new developments, or a leader forecasting what lies ahead, our program covers a breadth that everyone can benefit from.
Agenda
Registration can be found in the details of each session. You must register for each session individually. Registration is limited . Claim your seat today!
Day 1 Session I – The Great AI Debate: Exploring the Horizons and Possibilities for AGI in the Rising Era of Agentic AI
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Session Leads: David Leslie
Session Description: As the rapid development and commercialization of “frontier models” and “agentic AI” systems proceed apace, exploring questions around the meaning of and possibilities for “Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)” and “Artificial Superintelligence (ASI)” has become ever more important. A clear and well-justified understanding of these terms will prove crucial both for identifying the risks accompanying the proliferation of digital and cyber-physical AI agents powered by frontier models and for establishing effective governance mechanisms to regulate them. However, there has been much disagreement and controversy in establishing consensus on what we are even talking about when we refer to “AGI” or “ASI”. The definitions of and potential for the achievement of AGI—often described as AI capable of human-level cognitive activity across diverse tasks—and ASI—often understood as AI that surpasses human intelligence in all domains—remain hotly debated. Critics argue that these terms often reflect speculative hype and marketing strategies rather than scientific rigor. They caution that focusing on hypothetical “rogue AI” scenarios distracts from addressing the tangible risks posed by current AI systems—such as algorithmic bias, expanding inequality, and societal harm. They also warn that misguided belief in the potential attainment of AGI and ASI motivates a dangerous technological race among economic and geopolitical rivals that undermines prospects for meaningful regulation, society-led constraint, and democratic governance. On the other hand, proponents highlight the existential risks that AGI and ASI could pose if misaligned with human values. They emphasize the urgent need for technical, policy, and regulatory solutions to the control problems and alignment challenges raised by AGI and ASI to ensure safe future development and deployment.
The Great AI Debate offers a platform for critical dialogue to examine these contested concepts. The workshop brings together leading thinkers from diverse disciplines to address the fundamental philosophical, sociotechnical, and ethical questions surrounding these transformative technologies. Through provocations and dynamic dialogue, workshop participants will map the conceptual terrain of AGI and ASI. They will explore whether these technologies are achievable, what they truly signify, and how their development could reshape human futures for better or worse. By fostering constructive debate across a broad spectrum of views, The Great AI Debate aims to clarify definitions, assess risks, and chart pathways for effective AI governance.
Day 1 Session II – Designing Governance for Trustworthy and Responsible AI – A Practical Primer
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Session Lead: Liz Grennan
Session Description: Led by Liz Grennan, Partner at McKinsey and HDSI Visiting Fellow, this session will provide a practical approach to building trustworthy and responsible AI systems using real world examples from diverse industries. Through case studies and discussions with industry leaders, participants will:
- Explore accessible strategies for demystifying AI and addressing the risks of being left behind in technological advancements
- Learn how to build agile, scalable systems that integrate effective controls while fostering innovation
- Examine the ethical imperatives of AI and the importance of proactive governance, irrespective of existing regulatory frameworks
This session is designed for executives, policymakers, and business leaders seeking actionable insights to navigate AI governance with confidence.
Day 2 Session I – LLMs in Practice: Core Concepts with Real-World Problem Examples
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Room: LL2.224
Session Lead: Pavlos Protopapas
Session Description: This hands-on session introduces participants to the dynamic world of Large Language Models (LLMs) through a practical lens, focusing on how to use and implement these technologies effectively. The session will provide an overview of the fundamental concepts of language models, such as preprocessing and basic neural network architecture and transformer models and move into practical applications, demonstrating how LLMs can be leveraged in diverse real-world scenarios, from AI-driven customer service to content creation.
Day 2 Session II – LLMs as Autonomous Agents: Deploying Large Language Models in Interactive Real-World Applications
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Room: LL2.224
Session Lead: Mauricio Tec
Session Description: Deploying LLMs as autonomous agents goes beyond text generation––it requires reasoning, planning, and memory. This session explores recent techniques for designing AI agents, including chain-of-thought prompting, memory augmentation, ReAct prompting, and reinforcement learning fine-tuning. Through hands-on coding exercises, participants will gain practical insights into agent design for real-world applications. We will also discuss recent research trends, limitations, and ethical considerations.
Speakers
