Transforming AI Summit 2023
The summer showcase revealed the beginning stages of the Transforming AI Initiative. The Cambridge Foundry was buzzing as our Innovators unveiled early research, showcasing their findings through an array of methods, including videos, case studies, demos, and a card game. And since we love pushing our limits, a web app is under development to expand the reach of the research. The showcase featured a fireside chat with Dr. Nettrice Gaskins, a digital artist, academic, cultural critic, and advocate for STEAM fields, during which she shared her inspiring work, which has been featured in the Smithsonian and other museums across the country.
"Anybody with access can use a tool, but to get better output artists are needed. Always."
— Dr. Nettrice Gaskins
Addressing the Bias
Adding to the excitement, Dr. Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist and poet of code, made a surprise appearance. Her Ted Talk on algorithmic bias has garnered over 1.4 million views, and her MIT thesis methodology uncovered large racial and gender bias in AI services from companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Amazon. As a result, in 2020 these companies stepped back from selling facial recognition technology to law enforcement. We have been studying Dr. Joy's trailblazing work for more than four years and are proud to honor her as one of the “Geniuses" in our upcoming Genius installation.
