ICDS Events

Penn State AI Distinguished Talk; Organized by Penn State AI Hub

Date: Wednesday, April 26

Time: 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Location: 134 HUB

Agenda:
Confronting Ethical Challenges in a High Tech World
1:00 pm – Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Mehran Sahami
2:00 pm – Live Panel Discussion with PSU Faculty
2:30 pm – CIE Virtual Headset Demonstrations & Networking

Talk Abstract:

Machine Learning has tremendous potential for developing tools to improve efficiency and accuracy in decision-making in a variety of domains. However, ML also has the potential to lead to outcomes that reinforce human biases, disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, and violate notions of privacy.  We will explore some of the promise and perils that arise from machine learning to understand both some of the ethical issues and competing value trade-offs at stake.  Ultimately, we’ll examine what we might do to continue to harness the power of technology while better mitigating some of the ethical challenges it poses, not only from a technological standpoint, but from one of collective action.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Mehran Sahami is the James and Ellenor Chesebrough Professor and Tencent Chair of the Computer Science department at Stanford University. Prior to joining the Stanford faculty in 2007, he was a Senior Research Scientist at Google. Mehran’s research interests include computer science education, machine learning, and ethics.  He served as co-chair of the ACM/IEEE-CS joint task force on Computer Science Curricula 2013 (CS2013), and was appointed by California Governor Jerry Brown to the state’s Computer Science Strategic Implementation Plan Advisory Panel.  He is a co-author with Rob Reich and Jeremy Weinstein of the book “System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot.”

Panelists:
Dr. Cindy Lin, Assistant Professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
Dr. Sarah Rajtmajer, Assistant Professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
Dr. Priya Kumar, Assistant Professor, College of Information Sciences and Technology
Dr. Esther Obonyo, Associate Professor, College of Engineering and Director, Global Building Network

The AI Distinguished lecture series is supported by the following centers:
AI4CI, AIMI, CAFÉ, CENSAI, CIE, COMPS, CSRAI, JEDI, Nittany AI, and Quantum

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