Technology with a Sense of Responsibility. How Can We Achieve Ethical Innovation in the 21st Century?

Public event organized by the German National Commission for UNESCO to mark its 75th anniversary

Auf dem Bild ist das ZKM zu sehen. Das Bild zeigt direkt das ZKM während der CLOUD-WALK Ausstellung von 2019 und hat gleichzeitig eine starke, etwas futuristische/atmosphärische Wirkung

New technologies are rapidly transforming our lives. Artificial intelligence, neurotechnologies, quantum technologies, and digital platforms open up new possibilities, but they also raise important social and ethical questions.

What opportunities do these technologies offer? What risks do they pose to individuals, society, and democracy? And how can technological developments be shaped in a way that strengthens human rights, participation, justice, and responsibility?

The public event “Technology with Responsibility: How Can Ethical Innovation Succeed in the 21st Century?” is dedicated to these questions. The conference is being held to mark the 75th anniversary of the German National Commission for UNESCO and is being organized in collaboration with the ZKM Karlsruhe, the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), and the City of Karlsruhe.

The public morning session is open to anyone interested: citizens, high school students, college students, initiatives, organizations, educational institutions, and stakeholders from the fields of science, culture, politics, and urban society. No prior knowledge is required. The focus is on the shared question of how we can understand, discuss, and responsibly shape new technologies.

What is it about?

Technological innovations do not emerge in a vacuum. They influence how we learn, work, communicate, conduct research, make decisions, and live together. At the same time, many technologies are becoming increasingly complex, are being developed at a faster pace, and are taking on a more global scope.

That is why we need spaces where not only experts but also diverse social groups can engage in dialogue about opportunities, risks, and ways to shape the future. The event asks:

- How do new technologies affect our own lived reality?
- What ethical questions arise in connection with AI, neurotechnologies, or quantum technologies?
- How can regulation be effective without stifling innovation?
- And how can national and international approaches to the responsible development of new technologies work together more effectively?

Preliminary Program for the Public Morning Event

10:00–10:15	Welcome Welcome remarks by representatives of the German National Commission for UNESCO and the City of Karlsruhe.
10:15–10:30	Opinion Survey: New Technologies in Our Everyday Lives To start, all participants are invited to share their thoughts through a short interactive survey: Do you tend to associate new technologies with opportunities or risks? Which technological development affects you personally the most? What is needed to take advantage of opportunities and mitigate risks?
10:30–10:55	New Technologies – What’s at Stake? Constanze Scherz, deputy director of ITAS, provides an overview of the societal issues raised by new technologies. This goes beyond individual technologies to address broader trends: the rapid pace of innovation, global corporations, new dependencies, societal uncertainties, and the question of what political and ethical options for shaping the future remain.
10:55–11:15	Innovation on the Horizon: New Ethical Questions, Using Quantum Technologies as an Example Matthias Kettemann of the University of Innsbruck introduces new ethical and societal questions using quantum technologies as an example. What are quantum technologies? What changes might they bring about? And why does it make sense to consider their ethical framework not only at the national level, but also internationally?
11:15–11:45	Themed Stations During the Coffee Break During the coffee break, various themed stations invite participants to engage in small-group discussions. There, questions, ideas, and personal experiences can be discussed, such as: Why should I even worry about new technologies? Has technological innovation long since left politics in the dust? What rules, educational opportunities, or avenues for participation do we need? Participation in the discussion stations is voluntary. You are welcome to move between stations.
11:45–12:00	Digitalization in Dialogue – Art as a Vehicle for Social Discourse Margit Rosen, Head of the Collections, Archives & Research Department at the ZKM, discusses how art and culture can create spaces to make social issues surrounding digitalization visible, tangible, and open to discussion.
12:00–12:30	Ethics and Regulation – How Can We Achieve Consensus on Ethics? To conclude the morning’s public session, experts from academia, policy advisory circles, and international organizations will discuss how ethical guidance for new technologies can be developed. The focus will be on questions such as: How do scientific policy advice, technology assessment, and regulation work together? What approaches help incorporate ethical issues into innovation processes at an early stage? Why is national and international understanding necessary? And how can the results of policy advice actually be incorporated into political decisions?

Who is this event intended for?

The event is aimed at the general public, in particular:

- Citizens and interested members of the public
- High school and college students
- Initiatives, associations, and groups from the local community
- Educational and cultural institutions
- Stakeholders from academia, politics, government, and civil society

Contact

If you have any questions about the event, please feel free to contact Dana Mahr (dana mahr ∂does-not-exist.kit edu).