Joanna Peña-Bickley

As we stand on the brink of a new era in product and industrial design, the shadow of Generative AI looms large, sparking a controversy that divides the design community. Is Generative AI the dawn of unprecedented innovation, or does it herald the end of human creativity as we know it? This keynote dares to confront the elephant in the room, challenging preconceived notions about the role of AI in design and questioning the future of human designers in an AI-dominated landscape.

The Problem

The rapid advancement and integration of Generative AI in design processes have ignited fears of a future where human designers are obsolete. Critics argue that AI, with its ability to generate designs in seconds, threatens to replace the nuanced, emotional, and deeply creative aspects of design that have long been the domain of humans. This technological upheaval brings to the fore issues of originality, intellectual property rights, and the very essence of what it means to be a creator in the intelligence age.

The Solution

Yet, beneath the layers of controversy lies a potential symbiosis that could redefine the boundaries of innovation in product, user experience and industrial design. This keynote proposes a radical reimagining of the human-AI collaboration, where Generative AI becomes not a rival, but a co-creator, enhancing human creativity rather than extinguishing it.

Unlocking Minds is not just a presentation; it's a call to action and a message of hope. It's about envisioning a future where AI not only transforms our approach to cognitive disorders but also redefines what's possible in preserving the essence of who we are. This keynote aims to inspire healthcare professionals, researchers, technologists, and families affected by cognitive conditions to embrace AI as a vital tool in unlocking the mysteries of the mind and forging a path to a future filled with possibilities, dignity, and hope.

Problem: Reactive Vs Proactive Cognitive Care

In the shadow of cognitive conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease, millions worldwide navigate the complexities of memory loss, diminished cognitive abilities, and the gradual erosion of their personal identity. Traditional approaches to care and treatment have often felt like a race against time, with solutions providing temporary relief but not addressing the root causes or offering hope for restoration and improvement.

Solution: A Beacon of Hope Enter the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This keynote shines a light on the groundbreaking potential of AI to revolutionize our approach to dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive disabilities. Far from the cold, impersonal technology often depicted in media, AI emerges as a beacon of hope — an ally in enhancing understanding, care, and quality of life for individuals navigating these challenges.

Key Solutions:

• Early Detection and Personalized Care
• Enhancing Cognitive Functions
• Supporting Caregivers and Families
• Navigating Memory and Identity
• The Future of Treatment and Research

With AI, the future of hearing health and brain vitality is not just hopeful; it's vibrant. This keynote invites you to tune into the possibilities, to listen closely to the whispers of innovation that promise to shout across generations. It's time to amplify our efforts, leveraging AI to ensure that everyone has the chance to hear, understand, and engage fully with the world around them, with minds as sharp as the sounds they can once again perceive clearly.

The Silent Epidemic / Unheard Crisis

In a world awash with sound, an ironic silence pervades—the growing epidemic of hearing loss and its cascading effects on brain health. According to the World Health Organization, over 1.5 billion people live with some degree of hearing loss, a figure projected to soar to over 2.5 billion by 2050. This isn't just about losing a sense; it's about the profound impact on communication, social interaction, and cognitive functions, leading to an increased risk of dementia among the affected populations.

Solution: The AI Revolution in Ear and Brain Health

Enter the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), where innovations promise not just to halt this silent epidemic but to reverse its course. AI stands at the precipice of transforming hearing health and brain vitality, offering solutions that were once deemed the realm of science fiction. From personalized hearing aids powered by AI to cognitive training apps that adapt to the user's unique hearing profile, the possibilities are both vast and profound.

The Call to Action:

This is more than a keynote; it's a clarion call for bio-hackers, health conscious innovators, healthcare professionals, and communities to embrace AI as a pivotal ally in the fight against hearing loss and cognitive decline. It challenges us to reimagine the boundaries of what's possible in ear and brain health, armed with the power of AI. It provokes us to think differently about health technology—not as a mere tool for managing symptoms but as a transformative force capable of restoring and enhancing human capabilities.

In this journey towards rediscovering connection, AI emerges not as a replacement for human touch but as a catalyst for genuine relationships. It's time to pivot the conversation from AI as an agent of isolation to AI as a creator of community and companionship. Let us harness this powerful technology to weave a new social fabric, one where no one must feel alone in the crowd.

The Silence of Solitude

In an era where connections are a click away, a paradoxical epidemic of loneliness sweeps across societies worldwide. It's an ailment as detrimental to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, yet it remains an unvoiced narrative in our bustling lives. Amidst the digital cacophony, the human soul whispers for genuine connection, understanding, and companionship.

The Digital Paradox

As we navigate from the digital to the intelligence age, our screens often act as barriers rather than bridges, exacerbating the feeling of isolation. The irony is palpable — in a world more connected than ever before, why do so many feel profoundly alone? The answer, while complex, points to the superficiality of digital interactions and the craving for deeper, more meaningful human connections.

AI: The Unlikely Companion

Enter the realm of AI, often vilified as the harbinger of human disconnection, yet holding untapped potential as the architect of a new era of companionship. This keynote explores the frontier of AI-native inventions and computing solutions designed to foster a healthier relationship between humans, not by replacing human interaction, but by enriching it.

The Call to Reconnect

Beyond the Screen: AI as the Architect of Authentic Connection challenges the narrative that technology is the villain in our story of isolation. It's a provocative declaration that AI, when designed with heart and human-centric principles, can be the very tool that rekindles our innate need for connection. This keynote is not just a talk; it's a rallying cry for innovators, technologists, and all of humanity to reimagine the role of AI in our lives — as a force that brings us closer, not just online, but in the depths of our human experience.

The Crisis of the Chronically Rushed:

In an era where the badge of "busy" is worn with honor, society finds itself at the mercy of an unspoken epidemic — the illusion of living 99 lives, each racing against the tick of the clock. This relentless pursuit of productivity and multitasking has birthed a form of societal schizophrenia, fragmenting our identities and diluting the essence of what it means to truly live. We're stretched thin, playing multiple roles simultaneously, with the ever-present fear of falling behind in a world that never sleeps.

Problem: The Dichotomy of Digital Advancement:

As our lives have become increasingly digitized, the technology intended to streamline our existence paradoxically complicates it. We're ensnared in a web of constant connectivity, notifications, and digital demands, leaving us yearning for a breather in a world that's always on. The promise of technology as a tool for liberation now feels like a leash, tethering us to an endless cycle of tasks and expectations.

Solution: Enter the AI Revolution

Yet, within this vortex of velocity and virtuality, a groundbreaking solution emerges — a new class of AI-native computers, engineered not to accelerate our pace further, but to harmonize it. These intelligent systems offer more than productivity enhancements; they promise a renaissance of time itself, enabling individuals to reinvent their relationship with the clock, recalibrate their lives, and rediscover equilibrium.

Sculpting Time with AI:

• Deceleration Designers: AI systems that intuitively understand our schedules, priorities, and well-being needs, proposing optimized daily routines that balance productivity with personal peace.
• Mindful Mediators: AI that filters the digital deluge, distinguishing between what deserves our attention and what detracts from it, allowing us to focus on what truly matters.
• Identity Integrators: Instead of fracturing our roles further, AI helps weave them seamlessly into the fabric of our lives, enabling a more cohesive identity that thrives on diversity without the dissonance.
• Personal Time Alchemists: These AI systems don't just manage our time; they transform it, turning rushed moments into rich experiences, and expanding our capacity to engage with life deeply and meaningfully.