
The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI
Tue 20 Oct · 18:00
Cross Street Chapel
Venue events →
11°C · 37% rain
Ask AI: is it for me?
Similar events
View allAbout This Event
The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI will be presented at Cross Street Chapel in Manchester on 20 October 2026 at 18:00. The talk is given by Daniel Dresner, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester. It addresses humanity’s attitudes toward new technology and the promises made by artificial intelligence. The session explores how technological progress often relates to speed rather than novelty.
***The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI, by Daniel Dresner, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester*** ***Abstract*** Humanity’s attitude to new technology can be measured on a scale that varies from – in the words of A. P. Herbert – ‘Let’s find out what everyone is doing, and then stop everyone from doing it.’, to Arthur Dent’s question: ‘What happens if I press this button?... What we frequently fail to grasp firmly, is that Ecclesiastes’ observation – ‘that there is nothing new under the sun’ still holds true. Technology is usually just a matter of speed, or as Sir Terry Pratchett observed, ‘progress is just bad things happing faster’. And nowhere can we find a technology that (over) promises more comparative adjectives than a pomegranate is full of pips (Adams again) than AI…or ‘alleged intelligence’ as I prefer to think of it. AI has emerged in the way we find it today because like that scene in the Carpenter remake of The Thing, the head was separated from the body, and has tried to grow its own legs. It was bound to be a horror story. However, if we take a moment to anchor our approach to sorting out the AI security challenges in the philosophy of The Preacher, then there’s hope. In this presentation, I shall suggest nine principles with which we may just manage to reattach the AI head to the body of cybernetics that it left 70 years ago… ***Biography*** Daniel is the first Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester following 22 years with The National Computing Centre. He applies a diverse, community-based cyber security approach developing standards, championing SMEs’ cyber security for which he co-founded IASME, and works to find sociotechnical balance between people and technology. Daniel's Manchester cyber ecosystem activity furthers cyber innovation and growth at DiSH – Digital Security Hub – and steering cyber outreach from the University’s Centre for Digital Trust and Society. Daniel lec
Description supplied by the event organiser.
Staying overnight?
Hotels within walking distance of Cross Street Chapel.
Ad · Stay22 affiliate link
Similar Events in Manchester
View all →
Sat, 10 Oct 2026
Dusk Til Pawn
Dusk Til Pawn
From £18

Sat, 10 Oct 2026
Manchester Audio Tour: Time Echoes from Halls to Towers
Manchester Town Hall
£3.99

Sat, 10 Oct 2026
Wood & Company
Wood And Co

Sun, 11 Oct 2026
Sunday Skate 11th October 2026 with Manc Skating (Didsbury)
The Barlow RC High School
£7

Sun, 11 Oct 2026
Junior Jacksons Bingo Night!
Junior Jacksons

Sat, 10 Oct 2026
Mycelium Disco - Restore the land via the medium of dancing
Nelstrop Road North, Stockport
Free Entry
More at Cross Street Chapel
View all →
Sun, 11 Oct 2026
Sunday Worship
Cross Street Chapel

Wed, 14 Oct 2026
Wednesday Worship
Cross Street Chapel

Wed, 28 Oct 2026
"O Lord, Open the Eyes of the King of England”
Cross Street Chapel
From £7.21

Fri, 30 Oct 2026
Friday Lunchtime Recital
Cross Street Chapel

Fri, 13 Nov 2026
Stillness in the City
Cross Street Chapel

Fri, 27 Nov 2026
Anthems for Advent
Cross Street Chapel
Frequently asked questions
The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI takes place on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 at 18:00.
The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI is held at Cross Street Chapel in Manchester (Cross Street Manchester, Manchester M2 1NL).
The forecast for The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI is Mainly clear · 11°C.
Yes — hotels within walking distance of Cross Street Chapel can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.
Tickets for The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI can be booked via meetup.com using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.
The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI
18:00
Cross Street Chapel · Manchester
Editorial summaryAbout this event
The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI will be presented at Cross Street Chapel in Manchester on 20 October 2026 at 18:00. The talk is given by Daniel Dresner, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester. It addresses humanity’s attitudes toward new technology and the promises made by artificial intelligence. The session explores how technological progress often relates to speed rather than novelty.
This summary was automatically generated from event data sourced from official ticketing providers.
***The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI, by Daniel Dresner, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester*** ***Abstract*** Humanity’s attitude to new technology can be measured on a scale that varies from – in the words of A. P. Herbert – ‘Let’s find out what everyone is doing, and then stop everyone from doing it.’, to Arthur Dent’s question: ‘What happens if I press this button?... What we frequently fail to grasp firmly, is that Ecclesiastes’ observation – ‘that there is nothing new under the sun’ still holds true. Technology is usually just a matter of speed, or as Sir Terry Pratchett observed, ‘progress is just bad things happing faster’. And nowhere can we find a technology that (over) promises more comparative adjectives than a pomegranate is full of pips (Adams again) than AI…or ‘alleged intelligence’ as I prefer to think of it. AI has emerged in the way we find it today because like that scene in the Carpenter remake of The Thing, the head was separated from the body, and has tried to grow its own legs. It was bound to be a horror story. However, if we take a moment to anchor our approach to sorting out the AI security challenges in the philosophy of The Preacher, then there’s hope. In this presentation, I shall suggest nine principles with which we may just manage to reattach the AI head to the body of cybernetics that it left 70 years ago… ***Biography*** Daniel is the first Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester following 22 years with The National Computing Centre. He applies a diverse, community-based cyber security approach developing standards, championing SMEs’ cyber security for which he co-founded IASME, and works to find sociotechnical balance between people and technology. Daniel's Manchester cyber ecosystem activity furthers cyber innovation and growth at DiSH – Digital Security Hub – and steering cyber outreach from the University’s Centre for Digital Trust and Society. Daniel lec
Description supplied by the event organiser.
StayStaying overnight?
Hotels within walking distance of Cross Street Chapel. Searching near Cross Street Manchester, Manchester M2 1NL; check-in Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Ad · Stay22 affiliate link
WhereCross Street Chapel
Before you goFrequently asked questions
When is The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI?
The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI takes place on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 at 18:00.
Where is The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI taking place?
The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI is held at Cross Street Chapel in Manchester (Cross Street Manchester, Manchester M2 1NL).
What will the weather be like at The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI?
The forecast for The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI is Mainly clear · 11°C.
Is there anywhere to stay near The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI?
Yes — hotels within walking distance of Cross Street Chapel can be compared using the accommodation search further down this page.
How do I get tickets for The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI?
Tickets for The 9 are abroad… or, how I learned to stop worrying and love AI can be booked via meetup.com using the "Check Tickets & Live Prices" button on this page, which opens the official booking site in a new tab.
Price
Check website
Date
Time
Weather
feels like 11°C · chance of rain 37% · wind 1 km/h
Venue
Cross Street Manchester, Manchester M2 1NL
Secure checkout on meetup.com — opens in a new tab
Ask AI: is it for me?
EventsList lists 217,000+ events across the UK. Tickets are sold by the venue or its authorised sellers, never by us.
Same venueMore at Cross Street Chapel
All at this venueNot this one?Similar events in Manchester
View allMore things to do in Manchester
- The Good Clothes Show - ManchesterSaturday, 7 November 2026
- Freya SkyeThursday, 29 October 2026
- DayseekerWednesday, 2 December 2026
- David The Medium - The Way Back Home TourWednesday, 12 May 2027
- can't be blueTuesday, 3 November 2026
- DAY SESSIONS - Manchester - October 2026Saturday, 24 October 2026
- A QUIZ OF THORNS AND ROSES! ACOTAR QUIZ AT THE ABEL HEYWOODWednesday, 21 October 2026
- Manchester Mercy ExperienceFriday, 23 October 2026
- LA GUNSSaturday, 31 October 2026
- SPANISH EVENING SOCIALSTuesday, 20 October 2026
- Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky (387 pages)Tuesday, 20 October 2026
- Le meetup au Old Monkey! (pub) - mardi le 20 octobre 2026Tuesday, 20 October 2026
- Transvision VampTuesday, 20 October 2026
- Haunting TraffordTuesday, 20 October 2026








