It is among Europe’s biggest celebrations of its kind.
Re:publica has been held yearly in Berlin, the capital of Germany, since 2007.
Around 25,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event to discuss all aspects of the digitalisation of the world.
According to Markus Beckendahl, a co-founder of Republica, “Republica is Europe’s largest digital conference on the digital society.”
“We anticipate 1,800 speakers in over 800 sessions over the course of the next three days, bringing to the stage the most varied discussions and challenges of a developing digital society and reflecting on the kind of society we want to live in together.”
“Who cares?” is the theme for this year. A word play with a deep meaning.
The intention of the organizers is to get people to consider issues such as: who will look after the elderly in the future? Does it matter that society functions?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the overarching theme that unites all of these worries and inquiries.
“The artificial intelligence revolution is here. Many tools enrich our lives,” says Beckendahl.
“But AI is also currently leading to a concentration of power in fewer and fewer hands or companies. And we need to find ways to democratise AI.”
The festival features representation from international organizations, such as DIPC (Digital Innovation in Pandemic Control).
The organization is attempting to apply the knowledge gained from the pandemic to global health issues.
In Ghana, the project coordinator is Monica Amponsah.
“What ethical measures can we take to guarantee that all the potential benefits of AI contribute to global health improvement?” she queries.
UK 2024 has been dubbed the “super election year” because it will see elections in the US, UK, South Africa, India, and the European Union, among many other nations.
There is a lot of worry that AI will be used to propagate false information and sabotage democracy.
At the Institute for Democracy and Society (IDZ) in Jena, Germany, Matthias Heider studies disinformation.
“Attempts to undermine democratic processes and incite more hatred are always evident, especially during election years and when it comes to disinformation,” he says.
However, AI can also work in this favor. It would be beneficial for everyone if we could assist moderators on communities and platforms in promptly recognizing hate and taking appropriate action against it.”
May 27 marks the start of the Re:publica digital festival, which runs through May 29.
