At the United Nations Summer Program, a Computer Science Student Delves into the Moral and Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence
Ph.D. Student Wisdom Obinna Gains Insights on Ethical Technology Use at United Nations' Graduate Study Programme
Wisdom Obinna, a Ph.D. student in computer science at Georgetown University, recently participated in the Graduate Study Programme (GSP) at the United Nations’ office in Geneva. He was one of 51 students selected from over 1,250 applicants worldwide to join the prestigious two-week intensive seminar [1][2].
During the programme, Obinna worked in a group focused on the ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces [1]. This experience provided him with firsthand knowledge of how the U.N. functions beyond theoretical learning and allowed him to actively participate in shaping recommendations related to future technological ethics [1].
Obinna's research at Georgetown focuses on how AI affects artists' creative agency. His participation in the GSP complemented prior fellowship experience exploring ethical practices through a historical lens, enhancing his doctoral research [1].
The seminar, which is a crash course on the U.N. and multilateralism, also enabled Obinna to collaborate internationally with scholars from various disciplines, broadening his global perspective [1]. During the programme, his cohort met with U.N. officials and debated global topics, writing guidelines for the U.N. to address [2].
Obinna's experiences in the programme encouraged him to approach interdisciplinary collaboration in new ways and continue advocating for socially smart tech [2]. He left the programme inspired to learn new languages and use his research as a tool to contribute to the greater good.
Obinna has a long-standing interest in working with the United Nations. Prior to the GSP, he was a Fritz Family Fellow at Georgetown University's Tech & Society initiative [3]. His experiences this summer have added a new dimension to his research by urging him to consider the worldwide effects of rapid technological advancement across sectors.
The U.N. Graduate Study Programme offers graduate students like Obinna a rare and influential immersion into the U.N.’s multilateral work and an opportunity to contribute ideas on pressing global challenges, especially in areas like technology ethics [1][3].
- Wisdom Obinna's research on AI's impact on artists' creative agency at Georgetown University aligns with his career aspiration to advocate for socially smart technology, a path he further emboldened post his experience at the United Nations' Graduate Study Programme.
- The interdisciplinary collaboration and global perspectives gained from the U.N. Graduate Study Programme have inspired Obinna to pursue education and self-development in additional languages, aimed at enriching his personal growth and broadening the scope of his research.
- As a Ph.D. student under the Faculty of Computer Science at Georgetown University, Obinna's participation in the United Nations' Graduate Study Programme has reinforced his commitment to ethically navigating the environmental implications of emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces.
- In his role as a future faculty member and researcher, Obinna intends to integrate the lessons learned from the United Nations' Graduate Study Programme on policy-making, international collaboration, and technology ethics into his educational and self-development courses, encouraging the next generation of innovators to prioritize environmental and social responsibility in their career paths.
