Public invited to join discussion on AI and our society by AICC

The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) at Ulster University, in partnership with AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI), will host a free public forum in Derry~Londonderry this September exploring the growing impact of artificial intelligence on society

People from across Northern Ireland are invited to join a public discussion on how Artificial Intelligence is shaping communities, public services, education and the workplace at a free event in Derry~Londonderry next month.

Discussion on AI and our society with AICC

Hosted by the AICC, an Ulster University led initiative that advances awareness and responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence, the event is delivered in partnership with AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI).

AI and Our Society will bring together AI experts, industry leaders and local and national decision-makers at the Guildhall on Thursday 10 September for an open and accessible conversation about the opportunities, challenges and wider societal impact of artificial intelligence.

Free to attend and open to everyone, the forum will give members of the public an opportunity to hear from leading voices across government, academia and industry, and to ask questions about the opportunities and challenges AI presents for the region, both in the North West and across business and society in Northern Ireland.

Although the event is taking place in Derry~Londonderry, people from every part of Northern Ireland are encouraged to attend and contribute to this important regional conversation.

As AI continues to influence many aspects of daily life, the forum will explore what the technology is, how it is being applied across society, and how governments, businesses and individuals can navigate important issues including ethics, environmental impact and governance while harnessing AI’s potential responsibly.

Professor Michaela Black, AICC Principal Investigator and AI4CI Theme Lead for Infrastructure and Governance at Ulster University, said:

“AI is not simply a technical issue, it raises important questions about the kind of society we want to build and the values that should guide us. The decisions being made today will have long-term implications, so it is essential that they are informed by a wide range of voices and lived experiences.

“We hope this event will give people the confidence to challenge assumptions, share their perspectives and take an active role in the conversation. Responsible innovation depends not only on what technology can do, but on whether it reflects public needs, earns trust and delivers meaningful benefits for society and everyone.”

The discussion will be chaired by Lorraine Acheson, Independent Strategy & Policy Adviser and former Managing Director of Women in Business NI, with panelists:

·        Patricia O’Hagan MBE, CEO Core Systems (NI)

·        Mark Lee, Acting Deputy Secretary for Economic Policy Group, Department for the Economy NI

·        Kathryn Harkin, Head of AI Northern Ireland, NTT DATA

·        Professor Michaela Black, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Ulster University

·        David Crozier CBE, Director, AICC

Professor Seth Bullock, AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI) Hub Director and Toshiba Chair in Data Science and Simulation, University of Bristol, said:

“Events like this are important because they give people the opportunity to have meaningful conversations about AI with experts and decision makers. We often think about AI in terms of how individuals or businesses use it, but AI also has the potential to help groups of people tackle shared challenges – from reducing traffic congestion to making community decisions or managing health conditions. That’s why it’s so important to involve as many people as possible in the conversation, so that experts and the public can help shape how we want AI to develop and be used in our communities.”

Following the panel discussion, audience members will have an opportunity to put their own questions directly to the speakers during an interactive question-and-answer session.

The event is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Doors will open at 5.30pm, with the discussion beginning at 6pm.

Event details

Date: Thursday 10 September 2026
Time: 6.00pm to 7.30pm (doors open 5.30pm)
Venue: The Guildhall, Guildhall Square, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6DQ

Registration: aicc.co/publicforum

The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre is an Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast partnership funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the Department for the Economy.

The AICC has become a leading regional hub for responsible artificial intelligence. To date, it has supported more than 115 SME collaborations, launched the AI Learning Lab, trained more than 490 professionals in AI skills and established a pipeline of future AI talent through 260 fully funded postgraduate places.

About Ulster University

Ulster University is a forward-looking institution, uniquely placed to drive economic, social and cultural development through our three campuses in Derry~Londonderry, Coleraine and Belfast.

Student experience is at the very heart of everything we do. Every year, over 30,000 students from 70 different countries trust Ulster University to help them reach their career goals. Our high-quality teaching, informed by world-leading research across key sectors, boosts the economy and makes a positive impact on the lives of people around the world.

Ulster University was UK and Ireland University of the Year 2024 (Times Higher Education).

·        Ulster University is 1st in the UK for Optometry, Ophthalmics and Orthoptics, 2nd in the UK for Pharmacology and Pharmacy (Complete University Guide, 2026)

·        Ulster University is ranked 1st in the UK for Nutrition and Food Science (Guardian University Guide, 2026)

·        Ulster University is ranked Best UK University for job prospects and teaching quality (StudentCrowd, 2025)

·        Ulster University is in the top 10 for course quality rankings across the UK (University Compare 2023)

·        Ulster is 2nd in the UK for overall satisfaction in the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2025. The University is 1st in the UK for both Research Support and Online Learning Resources, 2nd in the UK for both Professional Development and Research Responsibilities and 3rd in the UK for Research Community

Research and innovation at Ulster University:

Ulster University was ranked in the top 10% of UK universities for research impact in the (latest) 2021 Research Excellence Framework.  Headline results for Ulster University include:

·        In the top 10% of UK universities for research impact

·        97% of Ulster University’s research impact was judged as having outstanding or very considerable impacts in reach and significance

·        80.1% of Ulster University’s research outputs have been assessed as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

For more information, please visit www.ulster.ac.uk

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