GTE Conference #3: Day 1 - part 2 - AI and more

After a break, we had an introduction to a number of other sessions.

Professor Rafael Miguel de Gonzalez talked about the work of EuroGeo, and the need for international collaboration.

Rafael criss-crosses the world for his work, and it was great that he gave up some time to attend this conference. He has received the highest awards for his work from the AAG - a rare honour.

Image: Sophie Wilson

AI was a strong focus for the conference as a whole, with sessions on all 3 days referencing the potential impact of the technology on our practice. He talked about the GeoDem AI project that I am part of. 

I need to finish off my contribution to the MOOC that is being developed for that project.

This was followed by a session suggesting we move away from AI and go back to the basics of drawing and discussing.

James Esson then led a short and excellent provovation based on a discussion he had been having with a Canadian colleague about the use of AI to create images, which had an inherent bias due to the source material they had been trained on.

James serves on the RGS Council and also served on the GA's Governing Body. He works at QMUL and is a thoughtful and creative academic who I have learned a lot from.

Image: Sophie Wilson

This was the final session of the first day, and I walked through Twickenham and to the Wharf Bar and Restaurant by the Thames at Teddington. 

Following drinks, chat and a tasty meal it was a half hour walk back to Twickenham where my hotel was, near to Twickenham Stoop, which was hosting a rugby match that night. Decent hotel room on the top floor too....