Artificial Intelligence in Society: Opportunities, Risks, and Responsible Development

Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Please note that this event was previously advertised under the title Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Future Ahead. The title has been updated to better reflect the session’s focus.

How is Artificial Intelligence shaping the world around us today?
What opportunities and challenges come with its growing influence across society?

Join BCS Hertfordshire for an engaging in-person lecture exploring the expanding role of Artificial Intelligence in modern life. Delivered by student speakers Amirthavarshini Vimaleshwara Raja and Abinaya Sri Arunkumar, this session will examine how AI is transforming areas such as healthcare, business, and data-driven decision-making.

This session will provide an accessible and balanced introduction to AI, considering both the opportunities it offers and the wider concerns it raises. Through practical examples and discussion, the speakers will explore how AI systems work, where they create value, and what ethical and societal challenges they introduce. The session will also highlight the importance of responsible AI practices, including transparency, accountability, and emerging approaches to governance and regulation.

Topics to be covered include:

The growing role of Artificial Intelligence in everyday life and across professional sectors
How AI can support innovation, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making
Practical examples of AI applications in healthcare, business, and other areas
Ethical and societal concerns, including bias, fairness, privacy, misinformation, and automation
The importance of responsible AI development, oversight, and governance
How the benefits of AI can be more widely shared while risks are managed responsibly

Whether you are a student, early career professional, or simply interested in the future of technology, this talk offers a thoughtful introduction to one of the most important and fast-evolving areas of modern computing.

Amirthavarshini Vimaleshwara Raja is a postgraduate student speaker at the University of Hertfordshire, currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Data Science and Analytics. She is interested in the role of Artificial Intelligence and data-driven technologies in solving real-world problems, and her work reflects a growing focus on how emerging technologies can be applied responsibly and effectively.

Abinaya Sri Arunkumar is a postgraduate student speaker at the University of Hertfordshire, currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. She is interested in applying machine learning, computer vision, and robotics to real-world challenges, and her work reflects a growing focus on developing practical, responsible AI solutions across areas such as image analysis, deepfake detection, and robotic vision.

Timings

19:00 arrival (light refreshments)
19:30 lecture commences
20:30 lecture finishes (optional Q&A afterwards)
21:00 event closes

Location

College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire
A166, Lindop Building, College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB

View Larger Map

Cost

Free for members and non-members

Booking

Get tickets: https://Hertfordshire220426.eventbrite.co.uk

Last updated 30th March, 2026 at 9:59am