WEP 2018

January 14|25 2018

The future of blurred boundaries between humans and machines is a recurrent theme in science fiction. This future is today.

Join us for two weeks of discussions, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and cultural and recreational events that will inspire our shared vision for a brighter, human-machine future. 

Is the future human?

Sensors monitor our state, health and behavior, relaying this data to configure a digital signature that is as much part of us as our biometric traits. Fed at petabyte levels, our digital signatures allow increasingly powerful machine learning algorithms to learn from the continuous data streams we generate and anticipate our needs and behaviors as consumers. 

Machine learning algorithms can increasingly mimic the function of our brain and will soon establish a direct interface that allows for the seamless control of robots. Robots are endowed with powerful sensorial capacities in order to interact with other humans, as well as their robotic avatars, through virtual networks that may eventually replace much of our human-to-human interactions. 

While this human-machine future offers to bring about unlimited potential, it also creates risks—of losing our privacy and the social traits inherent to our human nature. We live in a world where machines are increasingly embedded in our everyday lives. Machines shape our individual identities, social interactions, and society as a whole. During the 2018 Winter Enrichment Program (WEP), we invite you to immerse yourself in a diverse and stimulating program, touching on the opportunities and risks of a future where the boundaries between machines and humans will become even more diffuse. 

Registration 

Register now to WEP 2018! Advanced registration is required for limited seating sessions, strongly recommended and encouraged for Community Events and Keynotes. To stay up to date on all events and programs, make sure you follow us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram

Experience WEP Virtually

Tune in to @KAUSTOfficial every day at 9am and 3pm to watch the Facebook On-Air live interviews by MARCOM with the #WEP2018 speakers.

This year we are live-streaming on the KAUST Facebook page and YouTube channel the WEP keynote lectures lunch-time lectures.  

WEP Hub

The WEP Hub concept set at the University Library will be the beating heart of the WEP 2018 with daily talks, Facebook on-air interviews, creative activities, exhibits, and informal meeting with speakers, making the WEP even more human-machine future.  

Our vision at WEP would not have become reality without the huge commitment and active contribution from our programming, organizing partners and sponsors.

We hope you will enjoy this unique techie experience!

 

 Omar Knio

Chair Enrichment Office 2018

Professor, Applied Mathematics and Computational Science

 

                                                                                              

Marie-Laure Boulot

Manager, Enrichment Office