Human Flourishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Everyone is welcome to this conference on the rapid development of AI and the recent publication by Pope Leo XIV of the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

Cost: £25 (free for St. Mary's University students and staff, and contributors to the programme)

The conference is organised by the Benedict XVI Centre, St. Mary's University and the Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics (CEME) and kindly sponsored by CEME and the CCLA

Programme team: Fr. Ashley Beck, Prof. Philip Booth Dr Stephen Dolan, Naoise Grenham, Rev Dr Philip Krinks, Andrei Rogobete

9.30 am Tea/Coffee

10:00 am Welcome - Philip Booth (Professor of Catholic social thought and public policy, St. Mary’s University and Director of Policy and Research, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales) 

10.15 am Reflections on AI and Magnifica Humanitas - Bishop Paul Hendricks (Lead Bishop for AI, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales)

10.45 am AI and the future of business - James Poulter (ThreePoint Labs). Chair: Rev. Philip Krinks (Director, Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics)

11:15 am Break

11:30 am AI Christian mission and evangelisation - Joe Hartropp, (Digital Labs Manager, Church of England), Dr. Collette McGovern (Attaché, Permanent Mission of the Holy see, Geneva), Brenden Thompson (Director, Word on Fire UK), Maggie Doherty (Director, Centre for Living and Dying Well, St Mary’s University, Twickenham). Chair: Dr. Karen Singarayer (Vice Chair, Catholic Union)

12:30 pm Lunch Hosted by the Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics, CCLA and the MA in Catholic social teaching with short talks by Rev. Philip Krinks, Celia Waring (Head of Client Relationships, CCLA), and Fr Ashley Beck.

1.30 pm AI: Enterprise, innovation and investment - Kumar Jacob (Claryon Systems, Church of England Ethical Advisory Group), Prof. Philip Booth (St. Mary's University and member of the Faith Consistent Advisory Committee of the CCLA Catholic Investment Fund), Carina Kern (CEO and Founder, LinkGevity) Chair: Josephine Carlsson (Church Ethics Lead, CCLA)

2.30 pm AI and the future of humanity - Prof John Wyatt (Faraday Institute for Institute and Religion, Cambridge). Chair: Naoise Grenham (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales)

3.00 pm Human flourishing in the age of AI - Sr. Liz Dodd (Sisters of St Joseph of Peace), Rev. Philip Krinks (Director, Centre for Enterprise, Markets and Ethics), Delphine Chui (Independent Writer, Speaker and Content Producer), Rabbi Dr Harris Bor (London School of Jewish Studies). Chair: Rev Dr Ashley Beck (St. Mary's University)

4.00 pm Closing remarks, reflecting on the event and its relevance to the Catholic and Anglican traditions - Bishop Paul Hendricks and Rev. Philip Krinks

4.15 pm Finish