Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a new concept, but in recent years it has fueled amazing new capabilities, from computer vision to language processing. Developed with enormous volumes and diversity of data and unprecedented computing power, large-scale AI systems have begun to manifest emergent—unplanned, unexpected, unexplainable—capabilities. This seminar will cover, in four sections, the foundations for AI technology, where it has excelled, and an update on the use of AI in diverse contexts:
Session 1 - AI Foundations: A Brief History and Update on the State of AI
In this session, we will cover, at a high level, the foundations for AI technology, where it has excelled, what are the key technology components at play, and where the technology is heading (what may come next).
Session 2 - AI Applications: Opportunities
In this session, we will review a broad range of uses of today’s AI tools, their integration into familiar applications, and the use of interactive AI tools like Bard, ChatGPT, or Bing for tasks ranging from personal study and research to improving communication (writing, speaking, etc.).
Session 3 - AI Applications: Cautions
This session will provide examples of today’s AI limitations and weaknesses, with cautions regarding both inadvertent and intentional misuse of AI. The session will include an overview of the current state of formal evaluation approaches used by AI providers, highlighting the use and determination of metrics such as AI trustworthiness, goal alignment, and ethics.
Session 4 - AI Ethics and Society: Current and Potential Impacts of AI
In this session we will discuss a range of areas where AI is influencing, or will influence, society in very visible and–perhaps more importantly–subtle, ways. We will cover examples including those with tremendous positive impact as well as considerations for the impacts on society and the Church. Additionally, we will discuss some of the near-term expectations for AI applications and how we might think about them.
