What We Know About AI | Molly Wright Steenson | AI Now 2017

Summary

Molly Stinson's talk delves into the history and ethical considerations of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing its roots in defense and military funding. She critiques the popular narrative of AI as something entirely new, highlighting its long-standing development since the 1940s. Stinson underscores the importance of examining AI's historical context and funding agendas, suggesting that AI is about power, capital, and shaping new markets. She calls for a deeper, more critical engagement with AI, questioning its true purpose and the direction in which its development is headed, urging a reflection on the ethical and governance issues at stake.

Takeaways

• 😀 AI is not a new concept; it has deep historical roots dating back to the mid-20th century and even earlier, with some ideas dating back to the first century AD.
• 😀 The term 'artificial intelligence' was coined by John McCarthy in 1956, bringing together researchers to define the platform for AI development.
• 😀 AI development was influenced by the military-industrial complex, with major funding coming from defense sectors such as the Office of Naval Research and DARPA.
• 😀 Historical AI figures, such as John McCarthy, Marvin Minsky, and Alan Turing, contributed to foundational ideas like machine learning and modeling intelligence.
• 😀 AI's evolution is linked to major historical moments, including World War II and the development of cybernetics and early computational theories.
• 😀 Early AI research involved ambitious ideas, such as perceptrons, which were initially hailed as capable of tasks like seeing and talking but were later criticized for their limitations.
• 😀 The legacy of AI research is still visible today, with institutions like the MIT AI Lab continuing to shape the field and advance AI technologies.
• 😀 The funding structures and influential figures in AI research have created a tight network that controls much of the discourse around AI development and its applications.
• 😀 AI is often framed as a tool for creating new markets, power structures, and capital, leading to questions about whose interests are being prioritized in its development.
• 😀 Stinson calls for a re-examination of AI's goals and agendas, urging a more open conversation about its ethical and societal implications.
• 😀 AI is not just about technical advancements but also about the social, ethical, and political dimensions of how it is developed and implemented.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker in the session about AI?

The speaker focuses on the ethics and governance of AI, emphasizing the importance of understanding AI's history, the agendas driving its development, and how it impacts society.

How does the speaker challenge common perceptions of AI?

The speaker argues that AI is not a new concept, as it has historical roots going back to the 1940s, and criticizes the media's oversimplified portrayals of AI as something revolutionary.

What is the significance of John McCarthy's contribution to AI?

John McCarthy coined the term 'artificial intelligence' in 1956 and played a key role in shaping AI's development by convening a group of researchers at Dartmouth to formalize AI as a field of study.

How does the speaker link AI's development to military and defense funding?

The speaker highlights that much of AI's early funding came from defense-related projects, particularly through agencies like DARPA and the Office of Naval Research, influencing the direction and priorities of AI research.

What historical AI research project is mentioned as being particularly influential?

The perceptron, created by Frank Rosenblatt in 1958, is mentioned as a major early AI project that generated media attention but was later criticized, resulting in a shift in AI research funding.

How did the publication of 'Perceptrons' by Marvin Minsky and Seymour Papert impact AI research?

The publication 'Perceptrons' criticized the perceptron and led to the reduction of funding for connectionist AI research, marking a significant setback in the field for several decades.

What was the role of the Architecture Machine Group at MIT?

The Architecture Machine Group at MIT, founded in the 1960s, explored the intersection of architecture, engineering, and AI, developing technology and interfaces for AI applications.

What does the speaker suggest about the agendas behind AI's development?

The speaker argues that AI development is driven by agendas centered on capital, power, and defense funding, and questions what we want AI to be about, challenging the narrow goals set by its early proponents.

What is the speaker's stance on the portrayal of AI in popular media?

The speaker criticizes popular media portrayals of AI, calling them oversimplified and misleading, and encourages a deeper understanding of the field's true history and ongoing implications.

How does the speaker envision the future of AI governance?

The speaker calls for a critical look at AI's historical agendas and urges stakeholders to consider the ethical and governance implications of AI moving forward, asking what kind of future we want AI to shape.