Session 6 - Creative Futures: Envisioning AI, Data and Robotics' Role in Culture, Arts, and Society

MODERATOR

Prof. at Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Sociologist at imec-SMIT

An Jacobs, Ph.D., is a sociologist working at SMIT since 2005. Currently she is a part time Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Communication Studies, teaching Interpretative research methods at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium. She is also Principal Investigator at the research centre SMIT (Studies on Media, Innovation and Technology). In this position, she is Program manager of the Data and Society program, and an interim unit leader of the research unit “ Digital Health and Work” in close cooperation with imec (Belgian/Flemish R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technology).

SPEAKER

Assistant Professor of Robotics at University of Michigan

Patrícia Alves-Oliveira is an Assistant Professor of Robotics at the University of Michigan, where she leads the Robot Studio, a research lab focused on creating robots that empower and enhance human well-being, including physical and mental health, and creativity. Patricia’s interdisciplinary background unifies the fields of Robotics, Design, and Psychology. Her research received three Best Paper Awards at the ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, and she has been involved in the organization of multiple Scientific Conferences and Workshops in the field of Human-Robot Interaction. She co-founded Talking Robotics and is now a volunteer in Open Style Lab.

SPEAKER

Co-founder and president of Ask Mona

Marion is an entrepreneur, teacher, lecturer, author and artist. She explores the intersections between art and artificial intelligence through these different perspectives. She is co-founder and president of Ask Mona, a pioneering company that has been mobilising AI to improve access to culture. She works with internationally renowned cultural institutions including the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou and the Colosseum in Rome. She is also one of the 5 members of the Strategic Committee on Generative AI for the cultural sector appointed by the French Minister for Culture in 2023. She is also an expert evaluator for the European Commission and an expert on the digital college of France 2030. Marion has received several awards, including Forbes 30 Under 30 (France in 2022 and Europe in 2023) and the Médaille d'honneur de la Ville de Paris (2018).

SPEAKER

Artistic Director & curator at KIKK Festival, TRAKK, Le Pavillon & AfriKIKK & Member of de Digital Arts & Visual Arts Commission of Wallonia-Brussels Federation as well as of the Arts Commission of Wallonia.

Marie du Chastel is an art curator and expert in digital and new media art. She leads the programming for KIKK, a non-profit association that explores the intersections of art, science, technology, and society. Marie curates the KIKK Festival in Namur, Belgium. She also spearheads the AfriKIKK project, showcasing digital creativity from Africa, the Maghreb, and their diasporas. Additionally, she curates Le Pavillon, a permanent exhibition space featuring artistic works, scientific research, and business prototypes. Marie manages KIKK’s artistic production platform, producing and disseminating art globally, and contributes to various other projects, including the creative hub and Fab Lab TRAKK in Namur. Since 2014, she has been a member of the Digital Arts Commission of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and was named Francophone Woman of the Year 2020 by the AIMF.

SPEAKER

Director of Development at Histovery

After gaining experience at Sketchfab NYC as a business developer for cultural institutions in 2017, Raphaël Marchou joined Histovery five years ago. Since then, he has contributed to various projects, including the HistoPad for the Popes' Palace, Albrechtsburg and Moritzburg castles in Germany, and international exhibitions on D-Day and Notre-Dame Cathedral.