The Roles of AI and Human Expertise in Building Scholarly Contexts: 

Perspectives from East Asian Text Encoding

[Abstract] 

TBA

Preserving, Studying, and Disseminating Written Heritage

[Abstract] 

  Written artefacts are an important segment of cultural heritage. They have been produced since the invention of writing five millennia ago and include administrative documents and literary manuscripts, hand-drawn maps and printed books, engravings on stone, metal and other materials, and range from ephemeral graffiti to luxury editions and monumental inscriptions. These artefacts belong to various individuals, group and states; together they constitute an essential part of humankind’s memory. In spite of possible legal and ethical caveats in some cases, it is generally accepted that these artefacts must be preserved and made accessible to the general public.

  After some general considerations, the talk will present a holistic approach that includes and combines preservation, research and outreach. Using evidence from various cultures, it will be shown how this cycle of valorisation depends on artefacts on the one hand, on the other on the circumstances on the ground. Special attention will be paid to all actors involved: curators, librarians, archivists, scholars, scientists, teachers, and the institutions they work for.

The Evolution of AI Agents: 

Redefining Human-AI Collaboration

[Abstract] 

  The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence is driving a profound shift from passive question answering tools to autonomous AI agents. As these intelligent agents seamlessly integrate into our workspaces and daily lives, they are doing more than just automating tasks—they are fundamentally redefining the relationship between humans and machines.

  This speech explores the latest technological trends in Agentic AI and examines its transformative impact on organizational workflows and job requirements. Rather than simply replacing human labor, AI agents present an unprecedented opportunity to redesign how we work, enabling individuals to "work smarter," bridge execution gaps, and accomplish ambitious goals that were previously out of reach.

  As workflows transition from human execution to human-AI collaboration, the core competencies of the workforce must evolve. While technical adaptability is crucial, uniquely human soft skills—such as critical thinking, strategic empathy, and visionary leadership—become the ultimate differentiators. Finally, the session will address the critical challenge of the AI divide, emphasizing that the true success of this paradigm shift relies on inclusive, cross-disciplinary, and international collaboration to ensure the benefits of Agentic AI are equitably distributed globally.