ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

By the year 2020, global spending on AI research and development is estimated to reach $46 billion, with money pouring in from big tech companies, investors, public institutions and governments, and with countries racing to develop AI that will give them the ultimate edge to rule the future world, AI research is not only the biggest and most consequential game in town, it’s getting the most attention for good reasons — AI is set to change humanity and our world in unimaginable ways.

Does the mind-boggling acceleration of AI innovation leave you wondering what it all means, how you should process all of this info, and how you can benefit from and/or participate in) AI research?

This Mission AI workshop, taught by Dr. Seth Baum (Executive Director of The Global Catastrophic Risk Institute and AI researcher) will introduce you to the global AI research ecosystem (the researchers, the companies, the conflicts, the money funding it and and the research leading new innovations). It will show you how you can stay on top of the research without becoming overwhelmed, provide easy resources to explore research that interests you the most, and outline how you can benefit from using AI research at work and how you can participate in AI research even if you aren’t a researcher or a technologist.

PREREQUISITES & PREP

No prerequisites required. This workshop is ideal for product managers, developers and engineers, marketers, entrepreneurs, students, teachers, journalists, and anyone who who wants to levelup their AI knowledge and gain a more nuanced understanding of how AI research is currently being produced, funded, and used to develop new technologies.

There will be in-class exercises. Please bring a laptop, tablet or other device to access the internet and participate in the exercises.

One week before the workshop, we will email registered attendees a short-list of research studies and papers that Dr. Baum may use in the workshop. You will be encouraged to read them before attending the workshop, but it is not required.

TAKEAWAYS

This workshop will cover:

1.  the different types of AI research – computer science vs. social science etc.
2.  how Google started as a research thesis (an example of research that literally changed our world)
3.  academic research on the social and policy dimensions of AI
4.  the research ecosystem that is specifically focused on long-term forms of AI
5.  research focused on building AI
6.  debates and controversies within AI communities, including the Google Project Maven incident
7.  who the major players are in building AI
8.  research communities in different countries
9.  money being invested
10.  how the media covers research
11. the use and impact of data in research

Refund Policy: If you can no longer make it to a class or workshop, please email us at least 7 days before the scheduled event date. No refunds will be given to cancellations made within a week of the class or workshop.