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  • UCT Research Symposium 2024: The role of AI in research
The International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU)

UCT Research Symposium 2024: The role of AI in research

Written on 17 December 2024.

This year’s Role of AI in Research Symposium, hosted by the University of Cape Town (UCT), brought together experts, researchers and academics to explore the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on contemporary research. Held on November 8, the symposium provided a platform for cross-faculty and multidisciplinary discussions on the current state of AI, its applications across diverse fields and its potential to shape the future of research and society.

The event opened with a reflection on why AI is becoming increasingly central to modern academia. It examined how the integration of AI tools, including machine learning and data analytics, is reshaping research paradigms and enabling more efficient and innovative approaches to problem-solving. However, this progress also brings challenges, such as biases in algorithms, data privacy concerns, and the need for ethical governance frameworks.

The morning session focused on the current landscape of AI research and highlighted its application in various disciplines. Presentations demonstrated how the tool is driving advancements in fields like robotics, physics, astronomy, bioinformatics and healthcare. Researchers explored how AI tools are being used to analyse vast datasets, model complex systems and accelerate discoveries. Despite these advancements, the session raised critical issues, such as equitable access to AI technologies and the challenges of deploying them in resource-constrained environments.

In the afternoon, the discussion shifted to the future of AI and its societal implications. This session explored how AI might redefine the research landscape, with particular focus on its impact on pressing global challenges like climate change, healthcare and law. Humanities scholars and social scientists also highlighted how AI is influencing cultural studies and ethical considerations, emphasising the need for thoughtful integration of these technologies to avoid exacerbating inequality or marginalisation.

The ethical dimensions of AI featured prominently throughout the symposium. Speakers stressed the importance of transparency, accountability and inclusivity in AI development and deployment. The potential for AI to reinforce existing biases or create new inequities underscored the need for responsible innovation that prioritises social justice.

The event concluded with a collaborative discussion on the establishment of an AI institute at UCT. Participants emphasised the need for interdisciplinary approaches, greater AI literacy and initiatives that address both local and global challenges. The symposium ultimately highlighted AI’s transformative potential while calling for its ethical and equitable application to benefit humanity at large. 

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