About this event
IxDF Southampton invites UX designers, researchers and AI practitioners to explore whether higher ethical standards for AI are feasible in real-world design and development. This in-person talk, part of the IxDF Southampton UX/UI Design Community, features Blay Whitby—author of AI: A handbook of professionalism and a noted ethics expert for the European Commission—delving into the professional duties of those who build AI systems. Date: 11 March 2026. Time: 19:30–20:30 UTC.
Overview: Blay Whitby brings a rigorous, real-world perspective to the ethical questions shaping AI today. The talk challenges the prevailing “move fast and break things” mindset and asks whether stronger professional ethics can and should guide AI work across the IT industry. Participants will examine who benefits from AI, who bears the risks, and how designers, researchers and developers can embed ethics into everyday practice.
What you’ll discuss:
- The balance between innovation and responsibility in AI development
- The role of professional ethics beyond government policy and regulation
- Practical steps for integrating ethical considerations into design and engineering workflows
- Case studies and questions for the audience to reflect on your own projects
Speaker spotlight: Blay Whitby, PhD (The Social Implications of Artificial Intelligence, Middlesex University) and author of works such as Automating Medicine, the ethical implications of robot nannies, and On Computable Morality. He also serves as an ethics expert for the European Commission, offering a unique intersection of theory and policy.
Format and audience:
- Format: In-person talk with a short Q&A, followed by networking
- Audience: UX/UI designers, product developers, researchers, students, and anyone curious about AI ethics in practice
- Venue: IxDF Southampton (Local Group) in Southampton
Registration: Sign up and join the session via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-ethics-and-professional-responsibility-tickets-1982658073670?aff=oddtdtcreator
Why attend:
- Gain a grounded understanding of how ethics can shape real-world AI work, not just policy papers
- Learn practical approaches to embed ethical considerations into your design and development processes
- Meet peers from the Southampton design and AI communities and exchange ideas on responsible AI
Cross-linking and discoverability:
- Find more AI and ethics-focused events in Southampton and explo
