Highlights from the NHNAI International Conference “Human freedom at the test of AI and neurosciences” (LUMSA, Rome, 2-5 September 2024)

From September 2-5, 2024, the NHNAI International Conference entitled “Human freedom at the test of AI and neurosciences” took place at LUMSA University in Rome, Italy, bringing together over 60 researchers from diverse disciplines. The event, part of the New Humanism at the Time of Neurosciences and Artificial Intelligence (NHNAI) project, focused on the profound impact of AI and neuroscience on human freedom, ethics, and identity.

Led by the Lyon Catholic University and organized in collaboration with LUMSA, ATEM and the Contemporary Humanism Network, under the aegis of IFCU, the conference aimed to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue on the ethical use of emerging technologies and their implications for democracy, health, and education.

The event featured renowned keynote speakers, including Mario De Caro, Patricia Churchland, Dominique Lambert, Fiorella Battaglia, Thierry Magnin, and Laura Palazzani. Topics covered ranged from AI ethics, cognitive liberty, and neurorights to the philosophical, theological, and anthropological dimensions of technological advancements. Discussions emphasized both the opportunities and risks of AI and neurotechnology, particularly their potential to either enhance or limit human autonomy.