UWTSD academics take TEDxSwansea stage to champion responsible AI and human accountability
Two academics from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) have taken to the TEDxSwansea stage to explore one of the most pressing questions of our time: as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly powerful, who is ultimately responsible for the decisions it influences?
Laura Hutchings, Digital Lead for the Faculty of Education and Humanities, and Robyn Griffiths, Programme Manager for Business Management, joined Naveen Kumar KK, a technologist and AI governance specialist, for a thought-provoking talk examining the relationship between artificial intelligence, ethical decision-making, and human responsibility.
All three speakers are members of the executive team at Ethos Institute CIC, an organisation focused on ethical leadership, responsible innovation, and human-centred approaches to emerging technologies. Drawing on their experience across education, business, and technology, they explored how society can embrace the opportunities presented by AI while ensuring its development and use remain grounded in human values.
The talk encouraged audiences to look beyond what artificial intelligence is capable of achieving and consider the human choices, values and responsibilities that shape how these technologies are developed and used.
Reflecting on the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, Laura Hutchings said: “Artificial intelligence is changing the world around us at an extraordinary pace, creating opportunities that would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago. But with those opportunities comes an important responsibility to think critically about how we use these technologies and the impact they have on people.
“The real challenge isn’t simply understanding what AI can do, but asking what it should do, who benefits and who remains accountable. Human responsibility must remain central to the conversation.”
She added: “Universities have an important role to play in helping people navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence. It’s not just about developing digital skills, but encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and the confidence to question how these technologies influence our lives.
“These conversations need to extend beyond the classroom. By engaging with our communities, we can help ensure that people feel informed, empowered, and able to make responsible choices about the technologies shaping their future.”
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in education, workplaces and everyday life, the speakers emphasised the importance of ensuring that technological progress is accompanied by critical thinking, accountability, and ethical awareness.
Robyn Griffiths explored the implications of AI for organisations and leadership, particularly as businesses increasingly adopt intelligent technologies to support decision-making, improve efficiency, and drive innovation.
He said: “Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to support innovation and transform organisations, but technology itself cannot take responsibility for the decisions we make. That responsibility remains with us.
“As leaders, educators, and members of society, we need to ensure that our values guide how AI is used. It is about making conscious, informed, and ethical choices that put people first, rather than allowing technology to determine the direction we take.”
Robyn added: “AI is changing how organisations operate, and it’s important that businesses feel equipped to embrace these developments responsibly. Ethical decision-making is essential to building trust and ensuring innovation benefits everyone.
“By bringing together education, business and the wider community, we can help shape a future where technology makes a positive difference.”
The discussion also explored the growing importance of accountability as AI systems become increasingly autonomous, moving beyond providing information to carrying out tasks and taking actions on behalf of individuals and organisations.
Naveen Kumar KK explained: “As AI moves beyond simply answering questions and begins taking actions on our behalf, accountability becomes even more important. We need to know who created an AI system, what authority it has been given, and have a clear record of the actions it takes.
“We can delegate tasks, decisions and increasingly even actions to artificial intelligence, but we cannot delegate responsibility. AI may become more autonomous, but human accountability must remain.”
The speakers’ complementary perspectives highlighted the need for conversations about AI to extend beyond technology specialists, bringing together educators, business leaders, and communities to ensure that innovation is informed by diverse perspectives and responsible decision-making.
For UWTSD, contributing to discussions of this kind reflects the University’s commitment to connecting academic expertise with the challenges and opportunities facing individuals, organisations, and society. By engaging with wider public conversations, its academics are helping to promote a greater understanding of how emerging technologies can be used responsibly and in ways that benefit society.
The TEDxSwansea platform provided an opportunity to share these ideas with a wider audience, encouraging individuals, organisations, and communities to consider their own roles in shaping an AI-driven future.
At the heart of the talk was a clear message: although artificial intelligence may transform how we live, learn and work, responsibility for the choices we make and the technologies we use must remain firmly in human hands.
About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a programme of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organised events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organised TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organised (subject to certain rules and regulations).
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467071