CATRIN scientists contributed to an exhibition on artificial intelligence

The exhibition Futurum Ex Machina. Artificial Intelligence & Civilization opened on Thursday with a vernissage at Prague’s Kampa. Michal Otyepka and Lukáš Spíchal from CATRIN were involved in its preparation, contributing—among other things—to the content of the panels Revolution in Laboratories and Smart Agriculture and Data. Authors from Palacký University also include Kamil Kopecký and Dominik Voráč from the Faculty of Education.

“I’m very pleased to participate in exhibitions organized by Miroslav Bárta, which connect science, society, and current issues. Working on these projects is always an inspiration for me—just like any meeting with this inspiring man, our leading Egyptologist and scientist fascinated by the development and behaviour of civilizations. I’m especially glad to have been part of the latest exhibition dedicated to artificial intelligence, where I had the opportunity to showcase the fundamental revolution AI is bringing to the field of materials research,” said Otyepka.

Through 40 stories, the exhibition explains what artificial intelligence actually is, how and why it came to be, how it affects us today, and how it may shape the future of civilization. It addresses both the clear benefits and the potential threats that this technology, in human hands, can bring.

“The exhibition is not a closed story. It is an open scenario that can take many directions. For us, it’s important that anyone can come and see what artificial intelligence really means,” said the exhibition curator and one of its main authors, the Egyptologist Miroslav Bárta, during the vernissage.

The exhibition is held under the auspices of the Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík, the Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček, and the Deputy Mayor of Prague Jiří Pospíšil. It will remain in the Czech capital until June 29, after which it will travel to other Czech cities.