As AI advances at a rapid clip, reshaping industries, automating tasks, and redefining what machines can achieve, one question looms large: what remains uniquely human?

10 Feb 2025

In his talk, Neil Lawrence, the Deep Mind Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge, tackles the aforementioned fundamental question head-on. With a career dedicated to understanding the intersection of technology and human potential, Mr. Lawrence explores how intelligent systems can complement, rather than replace, human capabilities. At the heart of his talk is the notion of the “atomic human” – a philosophical and technical perspective on what distinguishes us from machines.

Indeed, Mr. Lawrence goes on to examine how technological breakthroughs have forced us to reconsider the traits we hold as inherently human. Each time a machine did something we thought was uniquely human, it cut something away from us. And as this process continues, is there a final frontier – a moment where machines can no longer cut something away from us and take away our capabilities? And if we find what that moment is, does it tell us something about the essence of humanity?

By drawing parallels between AI’s rapid evolution and some of history’s greatest human achievements – from the Apollo missions to Amelia Earhart’s daring flights – Mr. Lawrence illustrates how technology has been a tool to augment human ingenuity, not a force to erase it. With AI reaching further into areas once thought unreachable, the challenge lies in ensuring that we shape it as a tool for empowerment, rather than let it redefine our identity.

ESET’s commitment to promoting scientific innovation and progress is seen in its ongoing efforts to foster a deep appreciation for science, celebrate the power of groundbreaking research, and connect with leading thinkers in technology and science. ESET recently partnered with Starmus, the global science communication festival, and brought its 7^th edition to Bratislava, Slovakia, in May 2024.

 

The festival featured a number of thought-provoking perspectives from some of the planet’s foremost thinkers. You can now relive the experience from the comfort of your home and get a taste of how the power of technology is being harnessed to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today.