A Gathering of Minds and Machines
In February 2025, the NOVA team—comprising Professor Ilmi Yoon, and researchers Jose Sampedro and Ali Shehral, along with our Silicon Valley campus dean, Caroline Simard—descended upon the Responsible AI Conference in Northeastern’s Oakland campus. Our mission? To dive deep into the evolving world of artificial intelligence, rub elbows with the industry’s brightest, and maybe snag a selfie or two.
Peter Norvig’s Keynote: Human-Centered AI
The conference kicked off with a keynote from none other than Peter Norvig, a luminary in the AI realm and author of the most popular AI textbook in the field – Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach. Norvig delved into the nuances of human-centered AI, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical considerations. His slides painted a picture of AI that not only thinks but feels—a harmonious blend of logic and empathy.
Behind the Scenes with Ali and Peter
Post-keynote, Ali cornered Norvig for a chat. Amid discussions on mechanistic interpretability, Norvig let slip a tantalizing tidbit: his upcoming book with Stuart Russell might just be interactive. Ali quipped, “So, will it read itself to us?” To which Norvig chuckled, “Only if you ask it nicely.”
Engaging Panels and Spirited Discussions
The conference wasn’t just about listening; it was about engaging. Highlights included:
- Designing Purpose-Driven AI Systems: Christie Chung and Lili Gangas led a session on creating AI that’s inclusive and accessible. Their mantra? “AI for all, not just the tech-savvy.”
- AI Governance and Ethical Frameworks: A panel featuring Ricardo Baeza-Yates, Sudha Jamthe, Kerry McLean, and Jorge Sanz tackled the intricate dance of AI governance. Discussions ranged from regulatory roadmaps to the moral compass guiding AI development.
Jose’s Exchange with Ricardo
Jose Sampedro seized the opportunity to converse with Ricardo Baeza-Yates. Their discussion meandered through the challenges of AI governance, touching upon the balance between innovation and regulation. Jose later remarked, “It’s like walking a tightrope, but with algorithms.”
- The Imperative of Responsible AI: Usama Fayyad, Vinay Rao, and James Genone underscored the urgency of embedding responsibility into AI’s DNA. Ali engaged Vinay Rao on the recent Claude jailbreak project, extracting insights that promise to fortify NOVA’s endeavors in AI security.
Spotlight on NEURAI and NU Silicon Valley
- Professor Ilmi Yoon: A beacon of wisdom, Professor Yoon’s contributions to AI ethics were both profound and thought-provoking. Her perspectives added depth to the discourse, reminding us all of the human element in machine learning.
- Dean Caroline Simard: With her trademark enthusiasm, Dean Simard championed the outreach efforts of Northeastern’s Silicon Valley campus. Her presence was a testament to the university’s commitment to bridging academia and industry.
Reflections and the Road Ahead
The Responsible AI Summit was more than just a series of talks; it was a confluence of ideas, challenges, and aspirations. For NEURAI, the experience reinforced our dedication to ethical AI. Armed with newfound insights and a few inside jokes, we’re poised to infuse these learnings into our upcoming projects, ensuring that our AI not only thinks smart but also plays nice.
Stay tuned as we continue our journey, blending innovation with responsibility, one algorithm at a time.