Leading the way on Blockchain & AI

Next week’s conference by Working Town Events, ‘Blockchain & AI: Where are they taking us?’, promises to take the mystery out of these increasingly prominent technologies with the help of leading experts. Laura Bonnici finds out more about some of these i

The emerging technologies of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are already hot news for most of the world’s industries, both growing with a momentum that is undoubtedly set to change life as we know it.

Over the last 10 years, the secure, decentralised record-keeping technology behind bitcoin known as Blockchain has offered companies the chance to distribute data with the highest level of security. Meanwhile, the rise and pitfalls of AI have been well-documented on the big screen, while the technology itself has increasingly been applied to our daily lives, from our smartphones to our transportation, and beyond.

But what do we really know about these technologies? What can we realistically expect their impact to be? Have they already had a profound and irreversible effect? These questions, and more, continue to be at the forefront of the minds of both those already operating and delivering services related to these sectors, and those who are looking to take their first steps into this brave new world.

On 10 and 11 October a new conference organised by Working Town Events will tackle these questions head-on. ‘Blockchain & AI: Where are they taking us?’ will feature a number of expert speakers who are active practitioners in these fields, to discuss the impact these innovative technologies are already having, and may yet have, on both global industries and our lifestyles. Likewise, the useful and insightful conference will look at the relevant legal frameworks related to both technologies, particularly regarding Malta.

The two-day event will be compered by business journalist and PR strategist Jo Caruana, and will include talks, forums and panel discussions with tens of quality experts who are either using these technologies in their work, or are pioneers of the technologies themselves.

The long list of industry leaders participating in the event will include international human rights lawyer Helen Burrows. As an advocate for the development and use of technology to address human sustainability challenges and to develop the rule of law globally, Ms Burrows has supported improvements in justice with 50 countries for two decades. Ms Burrows is also a published author and a member of the Journal of Modern Slavery’s Advisory Board, as well as being of the UK’s Top 100 Corporate Slavery Influencers 2018.

Speaking about Blockchain and AI technologies, she said: “They assist us in several ways when it comes to combatting human trafficking, for instance. Integrating existing blockchain offerings, such as digital identity, contract storage/retrieval and product provenance trackers, we don't need to reinvent the wheel. But we can instead make it go faster. Blockchain's attributes of immutability and distribution allow us to reliably retain and publish intelligence about the labour conditions along supply chains and improvements being made to liberate people from suffering. When we have sufficient data, we will deploy AI capacity with the intention of being able to predict where slavery may occur, by reference to historical occurrences as well as real-time geo-political and socio-economic factors.”

Aviya Arika, meanwhile, brings her extensive background in financial regulations in Eurasia and in structuring global fintech businesses to the conference. Ms Arika is the Chief of Blockchain at Aviya Innovative Law & Head of Strategic Initiatives at the Israeli Blockchain Association, and in her capacity as a disruptive tech lawyer, a financial regulation advisor and as a keynote speaker, she is passionate about crypto and practice.

David Galea is the Founder and CEO at Beat Group, a niche specialist focused on providing advisory and corporate services to technology start-ups and established industry players. Mr Galea has more than twenty years of international advisory experience, assisting innovative tech start-ups in developing their business models and utilising blockchain.

Souella Louca will also be leading a panel at the event. As well as serving as a reviewer for a variety of international conferences and EU programmes, Ms Louca is one of the first academics to become involved in blockchain technologies, when she assumed responsibility for the Blockchain Initiative which designed and developed the first ever MSc in Digital Currency.

These presenters and panel experts will be joined at the conference by others including Godfrey Baldacchino, Joseph blockchain legal Anthony Debono, Claudia Borg, Gordon Pace, Stephanie Fabri, Philip Maurice Mifsud, Luis Pallares, Abigail Mamo, Béatrice Collet, Denise De Gaetano, Helga Pizzuto, Mark Mallia, Darren Parkin, François Grech, Leonard Bonello, Malcolm Falzon, Ian Gauci, Damian Mifsud and James Muscat Azzopardi. ‘Blockchain & AI: Where are they taking us?’ will be held on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 October 2019 at Villa Bologna, Attard. Tickets are priced at €300 excluding VAT, or €225 excluding VAT for members of certain relevant organisations. The conference is hosted by Working Town Events in media and PR partnership with Blockchain Island Magazine, Zeta, Meta Luminor, the Academy of Business Leaders, Write Me Anything, and Coin Rivet. More information, registration and ticketing details may be found online at www.workingtown.com/events or at www.ticketline.com.mt.