The AI revolution with Professor Michael Blumenstein
Mandelbaum House residents had the privilege of listening to a presentation by Professor Michael Blumenstein, a highly respected academic leader and an internationally recognised expert in Artificial Intelligence. He is currently serving as the Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Technology Sydney
The evening started with an Acknowledgment of Country, and in the spirit of the night, Mandelbaum residents performed Interstellar’s Cornfield Chase on the piano and cello.
In his presentation, Professor Blumenstein sought to demystify AI models and address some of the major concerns and fears regarding this technology, as well as the implications it has for the future of the Australian economy. His explained the inner workings of AI. Putting it simply, AI follows a similar system than that of biological brains. In this particular system, the basic component is a neuron, which is then connected to other neurons forming ’neural networks’, that when arranged in a certain manner can recognize patterns and create content from previously absorbed information. Blumenstein explained a little bit about the history of this technology and emphasized how it is not something new, but rather it is a technology that has been building up over many years, with the invention of the first artificial neuron in the 1940s.
The presentation continued with the exploration of the benefits that AI technology has brought up to our daily lives. From optimizing insurance underwriting to making job applications faster, AI has facilitated the augmentation of many routine services over the years. One of the technologies, image pattern recognition has even been able to save lives. Blumenstein shared some of the projects he has worked on, like SharkSpotter and CrocSpotter which use drones running AI models to detect sharks and crocodiles that might be swimming too close to swimmers.
His message shared an overall positive outlook on AI, focusing on economic efficiency and the potential to save lives. Mandelbaum residents understood these benefits, however others remained skeptical about the increasing rate of advancement in AI technology and the lack of regulation on the part of the government to influence the development and implementation of AI by multinational corporations and monopolies, which might further cement their grip on society.
Overall, the evening was very intellectually stimulating to say the least. AI is a new technology that has arrived in our lives and will continue to change the way we relate to our material world and to each other. Mr. Blumenstein’s talk brought a complicated issue to the front of our conversation. This night showed that it is only through active debate and conversation that society can find the best path forward in a time of radical change.
Article: Andres Zambrano (Mandelbaum House resident)
Photography: Carolina Alvarez and Yotam Kiper and (Mandelbaum House residents)