Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Losing her arm to meningitis at a young age did not stop Tilly Lockey from pursuing her dreams as an artist and sportsperson. The 'Bionic Arm Ambassador' from the UK credits cutting-edge technology for helping her make her mark as a creative person and Paralympian.
Speaking to Aletihad at the AI Everything Summit, Lockey said: "I lost my hands to meningitis when I was five months old. Doctors gave me a 0% chance of survival, but somehow, I pulled through. They had to amputate my hands because the septicemia had severely damaged them. Losing my hands felt like the worst thing at the time, but it was a small price to pay for life. Since I was two, I have been wearing prosthetics, always exploring what's out there."
Lockey teamed up with Open Bionics to create the Hero Arm, a cutting-edge bionic prosthetic, which allowed her to live a normal life and participate in activities like her peers.
The 19-year-old, who is also a fencing enthusiast, has shared her personal story of overcoming challenges and has demonstrated the bionic arms at global conventions, inspiring many.
During the summit, Lockey delivered a keynote speech titled "What Inspires Me Into Technology", sharing her journey into the world of tech and innovation.
Besides, Tilly will be hosting a Fireside Chat on "AI in Biosciences" along with the "Convergence of AI and Bionics," for how AI is transforming prosthetics and the future of bionic technology.
"I have been into technology ever since I was really, really little. So I feel like it is really important to educate young people on AI. I think it is such a daunting topic," she added.
"AI and the health industry do not get enough hype. Like everybody's scared of it, like ethically, with the environment and things like that. And they are very relevant. And we should definitely try and figure those out."
She stressed that AI and other advancements are revolutionising the health system, and "it is utterly life-changing."
Tilly also noted that the fields of health and education are where AI is really going to make the most positive impact.
In education, we will all be able to learn more. I mean, I have already learned so much just by being here today."
