The seventh edition of the Philosophy of Technology Colloquium at the Federal University of Piauí is set to convene researchers from Brazil and abroad from June 22 to 24, placing the ethical, political, and anthropological dimensions of artificial intelligence at the center of the debate. Organized by the university's Graduate Program in Philosophy (PPGFIL), the event aims to scrutinize the challenges AI poses to contemporary society. The complete program is available here. This colloquium has established itself as a key forum for reflecting on technology and its social ramifications, fostering discussions on ethics, governance, democracy, social justice, and privacy.
Algorithmic Ethics and the Push for Transparent Systems
The event’s roundtables will focus on responsible AI, algorithmic ethics, and the auditing of automated systems. Participants stress the urgent need for mechanisms that guarantee greater transparency, security, and alignment of technologies with the public interest. The colloquium also encourages interdisciplinary exchange between philosophy, computer science, and technology regulation. Debates on global governance of artificial intelligence, data geopolitics, and the concentration of technological power will receive particular attention.
Auditing Algorithms to Safeguard Democratic Values
Discussions on transparency and auditing of automated systems are central to the program. Specialists emphasize the importance of ensuring that technologies operate ethically and in line with democratic principles. Algorithm auditing, for instance, is presented as an essential tool to identify biases and enforce accountability. The colloquium proposes that these systems be designed through multidisciplinary participation, bringing together philosophers, computer scientists, and regulators.
Geopolitics of Data and the Struggle for Digital Sovereignty
The conversation on global AI governance includes an analysis of data control and the concentration of technological power in the hands of a few actors. Researchers will examine the impact of data geopolitics and highlight the urgency of digital sovereignty policies. International cooperation is identified as a pathway to prevent deepening inequalities in access to technological capabilities. Growing dependence on digital infrastructures makes these issues even more pressing, requiring coordinated responses among nations.
Inequalities in access to technology are a recurring theme across sessions. Experts discuss how technological power concentration can exacerbate existing disparities. The colloquium proposes strategies to promote more equitable development, including knowledge transfer and regulations that favor digital inclusion. In this context, digital sovereignty is seen as a condition for developing nations to actively participate in global AI governance.
Transformations of Humanity and the Shadow of Disinformation
The event also opens space for reflections on how the understanding of the human is shifting amid AI advances. Themes such as consciousness, creativity, identity, and technological mediation are analyzed from various perspectives, stimulating new approaches to cognition, subjectivity, and human–smart system interaction. Issues related to algorithmic bias, discrimination, and social justice run throughout the program. Researchers discuss AI’s impacts on areas like health, credit, and the justice system, highlighting strategies to reduce inequalities and promote more inclusive technologies committed to human rights.
Privacy, Surveillance, and Generative AI’s Threat to Trust
The relationship between privacy, surveillance, and the digital public sphere forms another central axis of the colloquium. Debates address contemporary challenges linked to personal data protection, mass surveillance, and information circulation in the digital environment—topics directly tied to preserving civil liberties and strengthening democracy. Wrapping up the discussions, a panel dedicated to generative AI and disinformation analyzes the effects of automated content production and the challenge of maintaining public trust. The goal is to contribute to the development of information verification strategies, digital education, and information governance, reaffirming UFPI’s role as a national reference in critical reflection on technology and innovation.