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Digital Futures Flashpoint #12: The United States of Artificial Intelligence

Digital Futures Flashpoint #12: The United States of Artificial Intelligence

When: September 22, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Where: Digital Futures, 3080 Exploration Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45206. It will also be available virtually on Zoom. RSVP here!
 
One of the most recurrent controversial topics in today’s discourse is AI and its perils, promises, and its potential in a growing number of fields, from sales to security. The panel, moderated by our own experts in AI, Drs. Raj Bhatnagar (Professor, Computer Science) and Kelly Cohen (Professor, Aerospace Engineering & Engineering Mechanics), explores these perils and promises. We are excited to feature on this panel four outstanding UC Alumni who are leading AI efforts at Google, Nike, Thales, and the United States White House.
 

Panelists:

Divya Sardana, Lead AI / Machine Learning Engineer, Nike
Computer Science, PhD
University of Cincinnati, 2017
 
Nick Ernest, Chief Architect, Thales
Aerospace Engineering, PhD
University of Cincinnati, 2015
 
Vineet Joshi, Software Engineer, Google
Computer Science, PhD
University of Cincinnati, 2015
 
Chirag Parikh, Executive Secretary, National Space Council, The White House
Aerospace Engineering, BS

University of Cincinnati

 

A Conversation with the Moderators, Drs. Bhatnagar and Cohen

We asked the moderators a couple questions about this upcoming discussion. Check out their answers below!
 
What do you hope the major take away from the discussion will be?
 

Dr. Bhatnagar:

"I would like the audience to understand that AI is a new technology that will bring more good than bad to the human society. Scientific and engineering research will progress at a faster pace and businesses will become more efficient. As with any other technology, there are possible misuses and humanity has always been mature enough to control and regulate the potential harm from these misuses."

Dr. Cohen:

"I hope that this panel with the aid of representatives of large companies such as Thales, Nike, and Google communicates the potential and challenges in this fast-growing field of AI. I'd like to share with our attendees what each of these companies are doing to make AI more Responsible and Ethical."

You were the mentor for a couple of the panelists. What is it like as a mentor to see your former mentees go on and have a real-life impact in this field?

Dr. Cohen:

"The success of one's students gives one much satisfaction. Specifically, I served as Dr. Nick Ernest, Chief Architect, Thales, as a Ph.D. and MS student thesis advisor during the years 2011-2015. To have him as a panelist and also as the main developer leading Thales's TRUE (Transparent, Understandable and Ethical) AI software system is very humbling especially since TRUE AI utilizes our very unique UC brand of genetic fuzzy explainable AI. I feel that our roles as educators is to provide the best possible platform for the success of our students. In this case I know I played a small role in providing a platform."

Dr. Bhatnagar:

"These two panelists, Divya and Vineet, are making significant contributions towards industrial applications of AI. I feel very happy to have trained them during their doctoral studies. Seeing such successful students is the best sense of job-satisfaction for a faculty member."