Session 13. Closing session. Humanities, science and artificial intelligence

Having reached this point of the closing session, it is to be expected -and desirable- that a current of ideas, opinions, doubts, questions, and also hopes and lights have flowed in this 2^nd Dénia Festival de les Humanitats. We have most probably shared the need for defending ethical reflection for supervising the great disruption brought about by the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution or Second Age of the Machine. We are at a disconcerting crossroads where different narratives vie for our attention as well as the attitude with which we imagine a future that is becoming more and more imminent. We either make the most of the opportunity to build a better world for humanity or the planet (unavoidable realities) or, as many experts point out, we are heading towards the apocalypse. Artificial Intelligence is the great challenge that technology -a consequence and result of our own creativity and ingenuity- poses to us as a species. Perhaps this is something that we have known since the beginning of time: we can use the same stones to build bridges or impassable walls. Our intentions and purposes will determine the evolution and outcome of the great transformations taking place. Only a technocritical stance that priorities the dignity of human life should have a future. In any case, we must know, share, and face together this challenging moment that we have to live, suffer, or celebrate. Recovering a humanist stance and the critical attitude that is philosophy (Europe as an attitude, in the words of Husserl) is an urgent need in this complex and fascinating time.

• Arcadi Navarro, professor of Genetics and ICREA research professor at UPF, Director of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation
• Francesc Colomer, doctor of Philosophy and expert in ethics and artificial intelligence, Secretary of Tourism of the Generalitat Valenciana (2015/23)

Institutional closing session