In the United Nations Summer Program, a Computer Science student delves into the moral implications of Artificial Intelligence.
Ph.D. Student Wisdom Obinna Explores AI's Impact on Artists' Creative Agency at Georgetown University
Wisdom Obinna, a Ph.D. student in computer science at Georgetown University, recently participated in the Graduate Study Programme (GSP) at the United Nations Office at Geneva. This prestigious programme, known as the UN’s longest-running educational initiative, provides a unique opportunity for graduate students and young professionals to gain firsthand exposure to international politics and diplomacy.
Obinna, who has a long-standing admiration for the United Nations' work, was selected among over 1,250 applicants for the programme. The Fritz Family Fellowship provided funding for his attendance.
During the two-week intensive seminar, Obinna and his cohort spent mornings meeting with U.N. officials and afternoons debating global topics and writing guidelines for the U.N. Miladin Bogetic, program coordinator for the U.N. Graduate Study Programme, described the summer session as a crash course on the U.N. and multilateralism.
Obinna's experiences in the programme encouraged him to approach interdisciplinary collaboration in new ways and left him inspired to continue advocating for socially smart tech. His team in the programme focused on recommending the ethical use of emerging technologies, including AI, quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces.
The programme's discussions resonated with Obinna's research at Georgetown, which explores how AI is affecting artists' creative agency. His team in the FASPE fellowship, where he previously participated, discussed how AI's automation and content generation capabilities are reshaping global privacy, safety, and security.
Obinna left the programme hoping to use his research as a tool to contribute to the greater good. As a technologist, he believes it is important to choose what to be a part of and speak up if something should be done differently. He is a Fritz Family Fellow at Georgetown's Tech & Society initiative, which has a core goal of evaluating computer science advancements for the common good.
The Graduate Study Programme (GSP) at the United Nations Office at Geneva offers Ph.D. students and others an immersive, practical introduction to the international diplomatic environment, combining expert-led briefings, networking opportunities, and direct observation of UN operations in a key international city. Through direct interaction with UN personnel and exposure to the multilateral environment in Geneva—a global hub for international organisations—participants acquire valuable insights and practical knowledge about international affairs, negotiation, leadership, and public policy in a global context.
- Wisdom Obinna's research at Georgetown University, which delves into AI's impact on artists' creative agency, aligns with the discussions during the Graduate Study Programme (GSP) at the United Nations Office at Geneva, where he explored the ethical use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
- As a Fritz Family Fellow at Georgetown's Tech & Society initiative, Obinna advocates for socially smart tech, working to evaluate computer science advancements, including AI, within the framework of the common good.
- The immersive, practical exposure to the international diplomatic environment offered by the GSP has encouraged Obinna to approach interdisciplinary collaboration, specifically in areas like AI and quantum computing, with a focus on creating technology with a positive impact on society.
