“The central question is not whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) will shape social communication, but rather how societies will choose to guide its development to support Democracy, Trust and Human Rights.” This was one of the starting points for the debate “Social Networks and Communications”, a panel discussion at the Science and Technology in Society Forum (STS forum), the world’s leading and most prestigious forum on Science, Technology and Society, held in Kyoto, Japan.
Among the experts invited to this panel was Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Chair of the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU). Also participating were Eric Mazur, professor at Harvard University; Juliana Chan, CEO of Wildtype Media Group; Maher Nasser, Assistant Secretary-General and Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2025 in Osaka; Ketan J. Patel, executive chairman of Greater Pacific Capital LLP; Jim Zemlin, CEO of the Linux Foundation; and Makoto Usami, professor at Kyoto University.
The ‘multiplier’ effect of AI, how this tool will be used, the challenges, opportunities and threats it represents, and its rapid integration into social networks and communication platforms were other topics highlighted.
In its 22nd edition, the STS forum took place from 5 to 7 October in Kyoto, and the Opening Plenary Session ‘Looking at the World in 2030 and beyond -- The Future of Science and Technology and Humankind’ was attended by the Emperors of Japan, Naruhito and Masako.
