The wonder of life, magic, and AI

What do life, magic, and artificial intelligence have in common—and why does that question matter now?

Join robotics and AI pioneer Rodney Brooks, inventor of the Roomba and longtime head of MIT's AI Lab, and AI ethics leader Francesca Rossi, IBM Fellow, for a timely and wide-ranging exploration of these questions.

Hosted by magician Mark Mitton, this thought-provoking conversation examines the illusion and reality of today's AI revolution. Together, we will explore the nature of machine intelligence and robot labor, how we can best harness the potential of these technologies, and what are the risks they pose to our humanity. Participants will learn a simple magic trick and be invited to use their own perspectives to help consider our shared future.

At its heart, this session is a reflection on technology, creativity, human values, and even the meaning of life itself—asking how humanity should move forward in an age of accelerating innovation.