
Think_Lab - AI in the Hot Seat: Exploring (un)trust, transparency, and inclusivity
Are you ready to put AI in the hot seat? The Arqus European University Alliance and the Interdisciplinary Digital Lab of the University of Graz (IDea_Lab) invite you to embark on an exciting journey at our cutting-edge thinkathon workshop "AI in the Hot Seat: Exploring (un)Trust, Transparency, and Inclusivity."
The Think_Lab is a future-focused interdisciplinary event that aims to delve into the complex world of AI, discussing its challenges, opportunities, and the critical issue of untrustworthiness. Through thought-provoking discussions, brainstorming sessions, and collaborative activities, we will explore strategies for assessing and addressing bias and other sources of untrustworthiness in AI systems. The Think_Lab offers an exciting opportunity to generate new ideas and research questions, pushing the boundaries of AI research. This workshop is open to academics and researchers at the University of Graz who have experience and interest in the use of AI systems.
Date: June 28, 2023
Time: 15:00 – 18:00
Location: Leechgasse 34, 8010 Graz (IDea_Lab)
To confirm your participation and reserve your spot, kindly RSVP by June 21. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to Lea Pešec (lea.pesec(at)uni-graz.at).

Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships at the IDea_Lab, University of Graz, Austria
The interdisciplinary IDea_Lab at the University of Graz invites expressions of interest from Marie Sklodowska-Curie Applicants. Prof. Dr. Markus Kneer will supervise projects in the following areas:
- Ethics of AI
- Philosophy of AI
- Human-Robot Interaction
- Experimental Philosophy
- Experimental Jurisprudence
As a host institution, we will support you in writing your proposal and host you during your fellowship at the University of Graz. Get in touch with the research manager Dr. Imme Petersen, imme.petersen(at)uni-graz.at. The deadline for submission is September 13, 2023.
We will hold an information session online on Wednesday, June 21, 2-3.30pm (CET). Please register with Dr. Petersen or write to her if you are interested but cannot make it to the meeting.
Background
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) is the perfect way for excellent young researchers at the postdoctoral level to advance their career and acquire their independent funding in an international environment. MSCA-PFs fund excellent researchers wishing to boost their career at a foreign research institution. It is a postdoctoral training programme that covers your salary for up to 2 years including training and research costs. To take into account your personal situation as a PostDoc who has to move abroad, you will also receive a monthly mobility allowance for travelling and – if applicable - family support on top. To be eligible, you haven’t lived in Austria for more than 12 months in the past 3 years, you have successfully defended your PhD and you have worked in research no more than 8 years fulltime. For more information, please visit the EU website: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
The Host Institution
The Interdisciplinary Digital Lab at the University of Graz (Idea_Lab) – bundles interdisciplinary research in the field of digital transformation. Founded as an experimental laboratory, it offers the MSCA fellows a creative space for networking and collaboration in basic research, the development and testing of data-intensive methods, to implementation in social transformation processes. The fellows can benefit from the Idea_Lab’s established contacts and connections at the University of Graz to the interdisciplinary network Human Factor in Digital Transformation combining research perspectives from the fields of digital humanities, business analytics, economics, education, philosophy, psychology, law, sociology, systems science, theology and business informatics on central topics of the digital transformation as well as to the two clusters of excellence Complexity of Life in Basic Research studying the complexity and interactions between components of living systems, and Smart Regulation exploring the impact of disruptive innovation in its existing legal, economic and social environment.
You will have the chance to work with internationally renowned leaders in the interdisciplinary field of digital transformation on cutting edge research topics. The University of Graz is a modern scientific institution with 500 partner institutions worldwide. As the second-oldest and second-biggest university in Austria, we have active collaborations nationally as well as internationally and conduct top grade research in a variety of projects. Furthermore, as the University of Graz is a member of the Arqus European University Alliance, you will have access to all the Alliance´s offers. The University of Graz has an excellent track record of successful MSCA applications at the postdoctoral level with a success rate above European and national average. Therefore, applying to the Idea_Lab at the University of Graz as Host Institution will be a good opportunity for you and your career!
Bridging the Gap between Technology and Society
Es erwartet Sie ein spannendes Programm mit:
- Einer Keynote von Univ.-Prof. Dr. Viktor Mayer-Schönberger (Oxford University/Universität Graz), Experte in KI, Big Data und Digitalisierung, der Unternehmen, Regierungen und internationale Organisationen berät.
- Präsentation der Ausstellung „Digitale Kunst“ im IDea_Lab in Anwesenheit des Künstlers Mathias Kessler (Wien/NYC) und der Künstlerin Suzanne Anker (NYC)
- Ein Blick in die Zukunft der künstlichen Intelligenz: Ein Interview mit ChatGPT
- Moderation durch Dejan Jovicevic (Brutkasten)

Bei diesem Event sollen die Teilnehmer:innen das IDea_lab näher kennenlernen und die Chance bekommen, sich mit anderen Interessenten und Innovatoren zu vernetzen. Wir freuen uns auf Ihr kommen!
Wann? | 14.06.2023 |
Wo? | Im IDea_Lab |

Daten als Rohstoff – Zur Zukunft algorithmischer Wertschöpfung
am Dienstag, 30.5.2023 um 16 Uhr ein.Seit Jahren wächst die Bedeutung von Big Data und Künstlicher Intelligenz für Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Politik. Durch die zunehmende Datafizierung fast aller Lebensbereiche sind digitale Daten omnipräsent und zum Rohstoff des 21. Jahrhunderts geworden. Mit der Verfügbarkeit und Auswertung großer Datenmengen verbinden sich Hoffnungen auf Steuerungskapazitäten, Märkte und Gewinne.
Wenn KI der Schlüssel zur Wertschöpfung aus Daten ist, dann stellt sich die Frage, wie Unternehmen in souveränen Datenräumen agieren können, ohne auf digitale Plattformen weniger Anbieter mit Oligopol- oder Monopolstellung angewiesen zu sein. Damit rücken umfassende Fragen nach dem fairen Zugang zu Daten in den Fokus, um offene Innovationsökosysteme zu schaffen, die allen Akteuren die Möglichkeit geben, das Potential von Daten für Innovationsaktivitäten zu nutzen.
Wir laden Sie herzlich ein, mit den Referierenden und den anderen Teilnehmer:innen in den Austausch zu gehen.
Programm:
16:00-16:15: | Univ.-Prof. Dr. Petra Schaper Rinkel: Willkommensworte, Einführung |
16:15-16:45: | Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Thalmann: AutoML as facilitator of AI adoption in SMEs: an analysis of AutoML use case |
16:45-17:30: | Teresa Lackner B.A. M.Sc. / Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr.rer.soc.oec. Stefan Borsky/ Univ.-Prof. Dr. habil. Jörn Kleinert: The if, how and why of using ChatGPT and other large language models in economic research |
17:30-18:00: | Pause & Erfrischung |
18:00-19:00: | Diskussion mit dem Publikum (Moderation: Dr. Lea Watzinger M.A. M.A.) |
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Wann? | Wo? |
STS Lesegruppe für interessierte Wissenschafter:innen
Am IDea_Lab trifft sich eine Gruppe interessierter Forschender verschiedener Disziplinen (v.a. Docs und PostDocs), um gemeinsam Texte aus den STS zu lesen.

Die nächsten geplanten Texte sind:
Juni
Karen Barad: Living in a Posthumanist Material World. Lessons from Schrödinger’s Cat. (12 S.)
Donna Haraway: Cyborg Manifest
Juli
Bruno Latour: Ein Anthropologe besucht das Labor
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Wo? | Im IDea_Lab |