Apéro Philo

The Apéro Philo event series are regular gatherings for those who are interested in digital ethics to meet and discuss philosophical challenges related to digitalization and innovation in a systematic and argumentative way.

Apéro Philo  is a “sister” program of Apéro Digital. Unlike formal academic settings, such as conferences or seminars, Apéro Philo facilitates discussions in a more relaxed, friendly, and inclusive environment, giving more space for creativity and networking. And unlike informal social settings, such as lunch or tea breaks, Apéro Philo hosts discussions of a thought-provoking nature, which can help researchers and students to engage in interdisciplinary scholarly exchanges and to enhance their reasoning and public speaking skills.

Our vision is to create an enabling space as an incubator for inter-disciplinary exchanges as well as cross-sectoral collaborations across the Greater Zurich Area. The events are organized around predefined thematic topics, followed with a networking Apéro, taking place at the different venues. The discussions can develop in any direction as long as they are aligned with the event themes and are conveyed with well-structured argumentations.

Please make sure to RSVP to the event of your interest via the following registration form. Follow us too on LinkedIn!

6th Apéro Philo Gathering

“Ethics, AI, and Innovation in Public Health”

7 November 2024 at 9-12 pm, Congressi Stefano Franscini, Monte Verità

Main organizer: Ning Wang & Karl Blanchet

In collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), and supported by The BRIDGE Lab, this special session brings Apéro Philo to the stunning Monte Verità. The topic revolves around ethics, AI, and innovation in health, including aspects of neuroethics, research ethics, ethical implications of AI & robotics in healthcare. Join Laura Cabarara, Markus Kneer, Ricardo Chavarriaga, Roberto Andorno, Yulia Sandamirskaya, Michele Loi, Daniela Mahl, Ivan Istomin, and other scholars and practitioners to learn more about it! A buffet lunch (yes for a change:) will be offered following in-depth discussions.

5th Apéro Philo Gathering

“Lies, Damned Lies, and Generative AI”

31 October 2024 at 4-6 pm, Digital Society Initiative, Rämistrasse 69, Zurich

Main organizer: Ning Wang & Markus Christen

How has powerful tools like ChatGPT transformed perception and expectations of the impact of Generative AI systems in society? How have stakeholders in the innovation community, including SMEs and large organisations used or plan to use these tools for day-to-day tasks? In support of the DSI Misinformation Month, this event engaging stakeholders interested in Generative AI for organizational processes in business will identify promising benefits and potential threats of impactful tools, such as digital marketing, document management, or internal communications. Join Avi Bernstein, Max Gerling, Livio Dainese, and Nina Habicht to learn more about it! An apéro will be offered following exciting talks and small-group discussions.

4th Apéro Philo Gathering

“Can Trust be Certified for AI Systems?”

22 May 2024 at 5-6 pm, Digital Society Initiative, Rämistrasse 69, Zurich

Main organizer: Ning Wang & Nicolas Zahn

Can trust be certified? If so, who should be granting it? According to what criteria? Who will be using it? At what cost and with what benefit? In this event, stakeholders interested in AI certification or currently involved in such efforts will gather to explore certification frameworks, such as the Digital Trust Label, through participatory and co-creation approaches. Join Nicolas Zahn, Arman Iranfar, and Kevin Schawinski to learn more about it! An apéro will be offered following exciting talks and interactive discussions.

3rd Apéro Philo Gathering

“Digitalisation Meets Sustainability”

2 November 2023 at 5-6 pm, Zurich Knowledge Center for Sustainability Development (ZKSD), Hardstrasse 235, Zurich

Main organizer: Ning Wang

During the semi-finals of the XPRIZE Rainforest, each team had 24 hours to collect rainforest samples and 48 hours to analyse the findings and compile a report. 13 teams took part including the ETH BiodivX team, who won this round and will advance to the 2024 finals as one of 6 groups. How did the team scan the rainforest within 24 hours? What technology did they employ to sample environmental DNA (eDNA) from inside the canopy? How did the researchers test their technology and sampling techniques back in Zurich? What other digital technologies were used to collect data in the rainforest? And how many samples and species did the team identify eventually? Join Prof. Stefano Mintchev, a team member of the ETH BiodivX team and the lead of ETH Environmental Robotics Lab (ERL), to learn more! An apéro will be offered alongside an exciting talk and interactive discussions.

2nd Apéro Philo Gathering

“Exploring the Potential of Healthcare Conversational Agents”

20 September 2023 at 5-6 pm, Digital Library Space, 2 floor, Rämistrasse 69, Zurich

Main organizer: Jana Sedlakova

Conversational agents (CAs) have transcended their conventional roles, now emerging as indispensable companions and vital bridges between healthcare professionals and patients. In the second gathering of the Apéro Philo Series, we will discuss the role and challenges of conversational agents in healthcare with Paulina Lewandowska. Paulina’s talk delves into the impact of CAs in healthcare, particularly within the context of non-communicable diseases. The talk will be followed by a discussion and an Apéro.

1st Apéro Philo Gathering

“Digital Wellbeing: Conceptualization, Empirical Results, Challenges”

11 May 2023 at 5-6 pm, Digital Society Initiative, Rämistrasse 69, Zurich

Main organizer: Eleonora Viganò

Nowadays in the increasingly digital society in which we live, our good lives are highly affected by digital technologies. This leads us to ask what is digital well-being and whether digital technologies are more effective in improving our well-being than traditional ways, as well as what socio-ethical risks digital well-being technologies bring about. In the first gathering of the Apéro Philo Series, we will attempt to answer these questions with Prof. Michael Latzer and Dr. Noemi Festic. They will give a talk entitled “Digital Wellbeing: Conceptualization, Empirical Results, Challenges”, followed by a discussion and an Apéro.

Register here:

Sample topics

• Can and should robots and chatbots be human-like?
• What is digital well-being and is it actually beneficial to us?
• Why are urban use of flying robots controversial and what are the concerns of citizens?
• What makes the implementation of scientific breakthroughs, such as geo-engineering or bio-engineering techniques, challenging from an ethical perspective?
• How can the tech industry be better prepared for an increasing demand from society to design and develop “ethical technologies”?

Head Image Generated by AI, created by Eleonora Viganò