Re:publica Digital Festival: A Platform for Debating the Digital Society
About the Festival
Re:publica is one of the largest digital festivals of its kind in Europe, held annually in Berlin since 2007.
Around 25,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event to discuss all aspects of the digitalization of the world.
This year’s theme is “Who cares?” A play on words with a serious message.
Organizers want to people to start thinking about questions like: who will take care of the elderly in the future? Who cares that society works?
Re:publica co-founder Markus Beckendahl said, “Re:publica is Europe’s largest digital conference on the digital society,” saying that over the next three days, visitors can expect 1,800 speakers in over 800 different sessions, bringing diverse debates and issues of an evolving digital society.
The main theme of this year’s festival is artificial intelligence (AI).
Beckendahl emphasized, “The artificial intelligence revolution is here. Many tools enrich our lives,” but also warned that “AI is also currently leading to a concentration of power in fewer and fewer hands or companies. And we need to find ways to democratise AI.”
Organisations from all over the world are represented at the festival, including Digital Innovation in Pandemic Control (DIPC).
The organisation is trying to apply the lessons learned during the pandemic to health issues around the world.
Project Coordinator Monica Amponsah of DIPC in Ghana asked, “How can we ethically ensure that all the opportunities that AI has to offer help improve the health of people around the world.”
The year 2024 has been dubbed the “super election year”, with elections in the EU, the US, India, South Africa, the UK, and many other countries.
There is great concern that AI will be used to spread disinformation and undermine the democratic process.
Matthias Heider, a disinformation researcher at the Institute for Democracy and Society (IDZ) in Jena, Germany said that AI can also have a positive effect in the fight against disinformation.
Conclusion:
The Re:publica digital festival is a platform for debating and shaping the digital society. This year, participants will discuss the main theme of artificial intelligence, its impact on society, and the ethics of its development and use. From disinformation to healthcare and ethics, the festival will tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.
FAQs:
When is the festival? The Re:publica digital festival started on 27 May and runs until 29 May.
Where is the festival held? Re:publica is held annually in Berlin, Germany.
What is the main theme? The main theme of this year’s festival is artificial intelligence (AI).
How many participants are expected? Around 25,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event.
