Talk for older people
Understanding artificial intelligence: what it can do and how it is changing things
The talk provides a clear explanation of how modern AI works and highlights what this implies for its potential and limitations in everyday life. // Photo: cherdchai – stock.adobe.com*
In a talk entitled ‘Understanding and Applying Artificial Intelligence – Opportunities, Benefits and Risks for Older People’, Tobias Meisen, professor of Technologies and Management of Digital Transformation, will discuss how the new generation of artificial intelligence works and what it means for our everyday lives. The talk provides a clear explanation of how modern AI works and highlights what this implies in terms of its potential and limitations in everyday life.
Practical insights into the world of AI
Live demonstrations allow participants to experience the possibilities of AI first-hand. Among other things, the session will show how AI processes text, organises information and analyses images. At the same time, it will address the limitations of these systems: artificial intelligence does not automatically provide correct answers and can formulate convincing arguments even when the information is incorrect.
AI-generated content poses a particular challenge: images, voices and videos can now be generated so realistically that, at first glance, they are almost indistinguishable from genuine recordings. Using specific examples of deepfakes, the talk demonstrates the possibilities offered by today’s AI for generating such content.
Background
The ‘Studium im Alter’ (vfsa) association is made up of older students who have set themselves the task not only of promoting study for older people at the University of Wuppertal, but also of enriching the university’s programme through lectures and information events that complement their studies.
The ‘Studium für Ältere’ programme is aimed at people who are seeking new challenges or wish to fulfil a long-cherished dream of studying, deepen their interests or acquire knowledge in new fields. The older students study alongside the younger students.
The six-semester ‘Studium für Ältere’ programme covers a broad spectrum of social sciences and humanities, with further subjects available as optional choices. Participants can complete coursework in the form of presentations, examinations or written assignments and obtain a certificate of completion at the end of the programme. However, senior students also have the option of studying purely out of personal interest, without completing coursework or obtaining the certificate of completion.
Admission to the programme for older adults is open to all older people who wish to continue their education; there is no minimum age requirement and no university entrance qualification (A-levels) is required. Initial enrolment on the programme for older learners is only possible for the winter semester, and must be completed by 15 November.
Further information on the ‘Studium für Ältere’ programme can be found on the website of the Centre for Continuing Education.
* The rights to use the Adobe Stock image are held by the university of Wuppertal. It is not licensed for publication by third parties.
