Stanford HAI 2019 Fall Conference - What Do We Really Want from AI?

TL;DR

Artists Stephanie Dinkins and Ge Wang discuss the intersection of AI, art, and human experience, questioning what we want from AI and the potential impact on ethics and aesthetics.

Transcript

• Now for the final plenary session it's a great treat for me to have a chance to introduce the folks you're about to experience. We're in for a great treat together, I think. Our session will be between Stephanie Dinkins, who is AJI's first artisan resident, and a colleague of ours here at Stanford, Ge Wang, from the computer, excuse me, from the ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😃 Small data, such as oral histories and local perspectives, can challenge the dominance of big data in AI systems, offering more nuanced and community-specific insights.
• 🎨 The balance between automation and meaningful human interaction is crucial in designing ethical and aesthetically pleasing AI systems.
• 😒 Engaging underrepresented communities in the creation and use of AI technologies is essential for ensuring inclusivity, representation, and responsiveness.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Stephanie Dinkins's project challenge the dominance of big data in AI?

Stephanie Dinkins uses small data, such as oral histories, to explore the ways in which AI can capture the nuances and specificities of communities that may be overlooked by big data systems. Through her project, she aims to create more robust, responsive, and competitive AI systems that are grounded in specific communities and their values.

Q: What is Ge Wang's perspective on the balance between automation and human interaction in AI?

Ge Wang emphasizes the need to find a balance between automation and meaningful human interaction in AI systems. While automation can be useful for certain tasks, there are also aspects of human experience, such as play and creativity, that are difficult to capture in automated systems. Wang believes that the design of AI should consider the unique ways humans engage with technology and strive for a more conscientious and artful approach.

Q: How does Stephanie Dinkins encourage engagement with AI among underrepresented communities?

Stephanie Dinkins actively seeks to engage underrepresented communities in the creation and use of AI technologies. She creates spaces, such as her AI assembly gatherings, that bring together diverse voices and perspectives to think collectively about the implications and possibilities of AI. By involving communities directly in the making and design processes, Dinkins aims to ensure that AI technology is more inclusive, representative, and responsive to their needs.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Stephanie Dinkins is working on a project called "Not the Only One," which aims to create a multi-generational memoir of her family using deep learning algorithms.

• Dinkins explores the ways in which small data and oral histories can challenge the dominance of big data and offer more nuanced perspectives.

• Ge Wang emphasizes the importance of balancing automation and meaningful human interaction in AI, focusing on the connection between ethics and aesthetics.

• Both artists advocate for embracing discomfort and bringing together diverse perspectives to create more inclusive and meaningful AI systems.