Proceedings of London International Conferences

Examining Dual-Use Risks in Biotechnological Supply Chains: The Contribution of Empathic AI in Reducing Threats Posed by Pathogens with Increased Pandemic Potential

Christina Schabasser — 2025-09-21

This research investigates the dual-use dilemma in technology supply chains and how empathic AI can address such a dilemma. The literature reviewed for this study revealed that AI has the potential to enhance supply chain management by clarifying and early detecting anomalies in biotechnology development and adoption. Over 90 percent of this research’s survey respondents agreed that AI can play a major role in securing biotechnology adoption through early detection, with them considering traceability a top priority in the process. Experts interviewed by the researcher believed that dual-use risks of biotechnology development revolve around the misuse of research findings, uncontrolled pathogen modification, and ethical concerns that may lead to societal backlash. In this context, they proposed empathic AI as a potential solution due to its ability to provide early detection, monitoring measures, and ethical guidance for biotechnology adoption, offering actionable insights into how policymakers and stakeholders should develop AI to mitigate the risks.

Keywords: , , ,

Distributed Ledger Technology (Blockchain) in the Financial Sector of Developing Economies: The Case of Afghanistan

Ezatullah Pezhand — 2025-09-21

This article explores the transformative potential of Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) in Afghanistan’s financial sector, amid a backdrop of systemic instability, infrastructural gaps, and geopolitical constraints. Drawing on an extensive review of digital banking development, expert interviews, and comparative global experiences, the study critically assesses Afghanistan's readiness to adopt Blockchain as a tool for financial inclusion, transparency, and institutional resilience. Although the formal banking system has largely regressed post-2021, grassroots crypto adoption reflects a latent readiness for decentralized solutions. The paper argues for a strategic, phased approach to Blockchain integration through regulatory reform, stakeholder engagement, and pilot implementations, particularly in land registration and remittance processing.

Reshaping higher education in the unavoidable era of AI

Ahmet Baytak — 2025-09-21

We're living through an extraordinary time, a moment in history as significant as the Industrial Revolution or the dawn of the Information Age. Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn't just another tech trend; it's a profound force reshaping every corner of our lives, and higher education is right at the heart of this transformation. This isn't about simply adding AI tools to existing classrooms; it's about fundamentally rethinking how our universities operate, how we share knowledge, and how we prepare students for a future where humans and intelligent machines work side-by-side. This paper dives into AI's wide-ranging impact on higher education, exploring the exciting changes it brings, the benefits it offers, the hurdles we need to clear, and, most importantly, how we can help institutions adapt and truly flourish in this new era.

AI Chatbots in Mental Health Support: Are They Effective

Omar Mohammed — 2025-09-21

The increasing global demand for mental health services has highlighted many shortcomings in access, affordability, and timeliness of care. In response, new applications powered by artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of chatbots have been developed to provide increased, scalable access to emotional support, cognitive behavioral techniques, and self-help resources. In this paper, we review the potential for the use of AI chatbots in mental health support and interventions through a focused analysis of applications, clinical evaluations, and user impressions.

Moreover, key examples of applications, for example, Woebot, Wysa, and Youper, yielded some promising results for individuals who experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, especially individuals seeking low-barrier, less stigmatizing access to support. Several studies also found benefits in mood charting, facilitating emotional expression, and self-reflection. However, operational usability of AI applications often depends on design efficacy, adherence to evidence-informed therapeutic models, and active user participation.

Indeed, while chatbots are cost-effective and scalable, there are some limitations. Examples of limitations include limited efficacy for some emotional crises that more complex, personalized interventions may deem necessary, insufficient personalization, and lack of true empathy. Additionally, clinical implications cannot progress without further addressing ethical concerns regarding data privacy, informed consent from users, and algorithmic bias in AI responses.

While AI chatbots are not substitutes for licensed mental health professionals, they represent a growing complement in the continuum of care. This paper concludes by emphasizing the need for hybrid human-AI models and stronger regulatory oversight to ensure responsible, safe, and effective deployment.

Sociovirtualization and Educational Practices: Enhancing Learning in Virtual Environments

Ibrahim Kurt — 2025-09-21

Sociovirtualization—the intentional convergence of social dynamics into virtual environments—is a new imperative model for redefining teaching practices in digital spaces. As virtual learning environments (VLEs) grow more prevalent, driven by advancements in immersive technologies and worldwide disruptors like the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers are faced with the twin imperative of rebuilding the relational richness of face-to-face classrooms while responding to the limitations of distance learning. Traditional VLEs align more with the dissemination of content than with interaction, raising transactional distance, an affective distance among students, instructors, and peers. Such isolation manifests as learner solitude, diminished motivation, and cognitive overload, where learners struggle with both the technical interface and complex social interactions. Sociovirtualization addresses such issues by embedding social paradigms—like co-op problem-solving, discussion through avatars, and gamified peer networks—within virtual pedagogy. Environments like VR classrooms and blended MOOCs(Massive Open Online Courses) illustrate this direction, however, theoretical consensus on good design practices is scattered.