"The primary political and philosophical issue of the next century will be the definition of what we are," futurist Ray Kurzweil wrote just before the onset of the 21^st century. Algorithms and autonomously operating machines have already begun to fundamentally change human beings and their surroundings. Meanwhile, social objectives and ethical standards regulating these developments often remain vague. While, historically and culturally, there are fundamental differences defining the discourse on data security and the risks of technological progress, the moral challenges resulting from the use of digital technologies are the same on both sides of the Atlantic.

These digital and technological developments not only affect our moral judgement, but challenge supposed certainties and pose stirring questions. Why not craft better humans? What does a just AI economy look like? Can algorithms be ethical? The conference "Moral Code" aims to propose new ways and platforms to communicate about the moral implications resulting from the use of digital technologies.

Keynote: An Ethical Framework for a Good AI Society
9:15am–10:00am

Luciano Floridi (University of Oxford)

Panel 1: Why not craft better humans?
10:15am–11:15am

Joshua Berson (Fellow Berggruen Institute)
Louisa Clement (Villa Aurora Fellow)
Nader Pouratian (UCLA)
Dong Song (USC)
Moderator: Josh Widera (Thomas Mann House)

Panel 2: What does a just AI economy look like?
11:30am–12:30pm

Damian Borth (Thomas Mann Fellow, University of St. Gallen)
Andrew Culp (CalArts)
Sarah Roberts (UCLA)
Moderator: Nikolai Blaumer (Thomas Mann House)

Panel 3: Can algorithms be ethical?
1:30pm–2:30pm

Safiya Noble (USC/UCLA)
Todd Presner (UCLA)
Ramesh Srinivasan (UCLA)
Moderator: Josh Kun (USC)