Book Launch 'Forever' by Daniel Gervais
Daniel Gervais – distinguished fellow at IViR – has recently published his new sci-fi book ‘Forever’. There is lots of legal thinking and impulses for reflection on AI norms and regulations in this brilliant book. But you can find out yourself! IViR organizes a book launch in the IViR library on Thursday, 5 October, to celebrate this achievement with Daniel and discuss AI issues against the background of the book.
The programme is as follows:
Thursday, 5 October, IViR room
16:00 Coffee/tea, snacks
16:30 Book launch with Daniel Gervais
17:30 Closing
In case you intend to join the book launch, please register by sending an email to Melinda Rucz (m.rucz@uva.nl). Here is more information on the book:
Daniel Gervais’ fascinating book ‘Forever’ depicts a scenario in which technology allows humans to live forever. With the use of AI, the border that has traditionally separated fact, or 'nonfiction', and fiction has become increasingly porous. Think of posts on social media by bots pretending to be human, altered photos and videos, including deep fakes. Science-fiction has always held a special place in this divide; it is often the nonfiction of tomorrow. In this book, the author crosses the border in both directions, using fiction to teach the law of AI by asking the reader to follow Christine Jacobs, a law professor, and her students, in discussing what it means to be human in the age of AI, humanoid robots, and cyborgs as her boyfriend prepares the world for what’s next. Crisscrossed by world travel, peppered with fine food and wines, filled with Russian poetry and cinema, and reflections about life and death, this book invites the reader to a world in which technology allows humans to live forever as long as they are willing to die first. The idea of transferring humans into humanoid bodies has been the theme for many eminent titles. This books unique contribution is its exploration of the legal questions and embedded philosophical issues that flow from being able to transfer a copy of a person’s mind into a synthetic body that lives forever.
