Markets Wired

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the agenda for its March 9, 2017, FinTech Forum focusing on the consumer implications of two rapidly developing technologies: artificial intelligence and blockchain. The forum, which is the third in an ongoing event series, will take place from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time in Berkeley, California.

The event will bring together industry representatives, consumer advocates, government officials, and others with expertise regarding these technologies.

The half-day forum will feature two panel discussions. The first panel will focus on the potential benefits and risks for consumers with the use of artificial intelligence, which involves the capability of machines to mimic human thinking or actions such as learning and problem solving, in consumer products or services in fields including personalized financial services. The second panel will examine the potential applications and consumer implications of blockchain, a technology for recording electronic transactions utilizing distributed ledger technology, including uses both within and beyond payments services.

Full details are available on the forum’s webpage. The event will be webcast live. The forum, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the University of California at Berkeley’s Banatao Auditorium, 310 Sutardja Dai Hall, Berkeley, California 94720.  Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time and no pre-registration is required. 

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.