Pondering AI

Renée Cummings is a criminologist, criminal psychologist, AI ethics evangelist and data activist in residence at the University of Virginia.  In this compelling discussion, Renée shares her journey from journalism to the judiciary and into AI. She articulates the power of perspective, why intersectionality and imagination are key to AI’s future, and the extraordinary good we can accomplish with AI in all domains - including policing. If, that is, we vigilantly guard against creating a future modeled only on the past.  Renée is comfortable being uncomfortable and believes this is vital when developing AI systems. Kimberly and Renée discuss the need for balance in solving the thorniest AI dilemmas. Technology or thinking? Risk- or right-based assessment? Debiasing data or the mind? Social sciences or STEM? Renée broadens our understanding of why diverse tactics produce better AI. And why authenticity and the courage to admit when we get it wrong (because we will) will create an AI legacy we can all be proud of. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.  Our next episode will feature Beena Ammanath, Executive Director of Deloitte’s Global AI Institute and founder of the non-profit Humans for AI. Subscribe to Pondering AI now so you don’t miss it. 

Tess Posner is an educator, social entrepreneur, CEO of AI-4-All and an avid advocate for diversity, inclusion and equity in the tech economy. In this inspiring and insightful discussion, Tess shares her mission to make technology and education accessible to all, inspiring work being done by rising student leaders in the AI-4-All Changemaker community, some eye-opening statistics on the state of diversity in AI, research on bias in today’s AI systems, and the importance of not letting cynicism rule the day.Tess’s passion is infectious as she explains why AI literacy and education cultivates future leaders, not just future data scientists. Kimberly and Tess talk about the hard but necessary work of creating diverse, inclusive cultures and why the benefits go far beyond positive optics. As well as why viewing technology as a silver bullet is fraught and the importance of unlocking human potential. Finally, Tess identifies tangible actions individuals, organizations, and communities can take today to ensure everyone benefits from AI tomorrow. A full transcript of this episode can be found here. Our next episode features Renée Cummings: a criminologist, criminal psychologist and AI ethics evangelist who is passionate about keeping the human experience at the center of AI. Subscribe to Pondering AI now so you don’t miss it.  

Michael Kanaan is the author of the best-selling book T-AI and the former chairperson of AI for the U.S. Air Force, Headquarters Pentagon.In this far-reaching discussion, Michael provides perspectives on the peril of anthropomorphizing AI and how differentiating between intelligence and consciousness creates clarity. He shares his own reckoning with humility while writing T-AI, popular misconceptions about AI, where we can go awry in addressing – or not addressing – AI’s inherent dualities, pros and cons of the technology’s ready availability, and why unflinching due diligence is critical to deploying AI safely, ethically, and responsibly.After a brief diversion into the perils of technology that is too responsive to our whims (ahem, social media), Kimberly and Michael discuss the importance of bridging the digital divide so everyone can contribute to and benefit from AI. Michael also makes the case for how AI may have the greatest impact on subject matter experts and decision makers and why explainability is overrated. And, finally, why AI’s future will be determined not by data scientists but by artists, sociologists, teachers and more.A transcript of this episode can be found here.Our next episode will feature Tess Posner: an educator, social entrepreneur, and CEO of AI-4-All. Subscribe to Pondering AI now so you don’t miss it.