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title: The Future of AI and Career Opportunities

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# AI panel - The University of Adelaide

# The Ask
from the Artificial Intelligence representative in the Computer Science Club at the University of Adelaide

We would like to invite you to give a speech lasting around 5 to 10 minutes on the future of AI in Australia and globally, as well as any advice or new information in the field that you believe would inspire the students. The speech will be followed by a Q&A session and a networking opportunity, where students can interact with you personally, ask additional questions, and seek advice.

## ifal talk

### Intro
My name is https://www.linkedin.com/in/leftbrainstuff/ I'm a mechanical engineer, former teaching academic; and I've spent more than 4 decades at the forefront of technology in motorsport, automotive, defence, materials science, advanced manufacturing and consulting. 9 years ago I joined Amazon Web Services in Silicon Valley after exiting my ML startup. Later this year I'm joining Amazon Robotics in Europe.

In the next few minutes I'm going to highlight some of the challenges for AI and the impact that may have in your chosen field of computer science. I'm also keen to hear your thoughts during question time and later.

I have a qr code that will direct you to all the links to my short talk today. I've even included 'my working' notes to show, that you are talking to a human, and not a generative AI thing...

I won't quote verbatim definitions, but Wikipedia is a good place for definitions of AI, GAI and ML.

I personally find the inanimate definition of AI to be confusing and limiting. ML is descriptive, the machines are learning. AI, for the author, is self replicating, self healing and self adaptive and able to compete with, and against other lifeforms. BUT AI is a good marketing term for the masses of what is just ML.

The ask was to talk briefly about *the future of AI in Australia and globally, as well as any advice or new information in the field that you believe would inspire the students.*

### Future of AI ...
Let's start with the future of AI...

I have some quotes to share; and I'd like the audience to guess at when they were created:

Here is the first quote.

'As soon as an Analytical Engine exists, it will necessarily guide the future course of the science. Whenever any result is sought by its aid, the question will then arise — by what course of calculation can these results be arrived at by the machine in the shortest time? ' 

Any guesses in what decade this was said?

Charles Babbage 1864

Here's the second quote.

 ' If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner. ' 

Any guesses in what decade this was said?

General Omar Bradley 1948

Context matters and perceptions can vary a lot. The previous quotes were from two very different individuals. One an inventor, and one a general, who was pivoting from world war two, to the nuclear arms race. There is a lot of FUD, panic, fear and 'flat earthing' on the topic of AI. These things are, or will, impact your chosen career, mostly in negative ways. 

Before the 2019 Australian Federal Election I analysed the background of the  1326 candidates. Less than 10 had an engineering background and few had any form of science background. The current and former science ministers have no science background. I highlight this because the future of technologies like AI is in the hands of these powerful representatives.

Some of you will need to help society with public policy, legislation, communications, journalism, advocacy, debate and take stands against the FUD. This non technical AI work is important too. 

One only needs to read the Australian legislation titled 'Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Act 2018' to understand the importance of knowing how things work as being crucial to understanding their use and application. Would we find the use of the word 'other' acceptable in a scientific paper? I think not. I urge you to read this piece of legislation. Hopefully one or more of you can fix this unworkable nonsense. BTW: I tried using GenAI, specifically a Hugging Face Falcon 40B model to summarise the content. It produced a more verbose response than the input. My hypothesis is that this legislation is indecipharable and therefore unworkable. 

Like earlier technological advances there are myriad benefits and issues. The Bronze age, Mathematics, Steam power, Electricity, the Rubber Tyre, the Nut and Bolt, Nuclear power, Computers, etc all have benefitted many. AI is just another technology that will be used for nice and and not so nice purposes..

A talk on AI would not be complete without some discussion of AI use cases. Here are some of my favourite ML examples that exist today, or are emerging. The links are accessible from the QR code and the list includes:
- autonomous and advanced manufacturing
- assisting the elderly, injured and disabled
- coding assistants
- creative writing and movie making
- learning assistants
- defence, military and disaster response C4ISR capabilities

I recently came across a published piece from the Economist of an 8 hour interview with Henry Kissinger. You can read about him on Wikipedia. He's a polarising figure, but more importantly he reached 100 years old this year and he's currently writing two books; one on AI. I hope my mind is as sharp as his when I reach that age; no doubt with the help of my robot servants, and I used the term servant and assistant intentionally. That is the future of AI that I look forward to.

There is also much we can learn from history. 

### ... any advice or new information in the field that you believe would inspire the students
The future of AI is the secondary question. I'm more interested in what you are going to do with your careers. Here are some asks from me, of you, and I conclude with my opinionated view of things you will need to be successful;

- please educate and inform our legislators, business leaders and the masses about AI and ML. Only knowledge of how things work can be used to sensibly inform others so that rationality can prevail.
- do not stop inventing and improving things. To do otherwise would be unscientific.
- when conflicted about what to do, throughout your career, then be nice. (Be nice would be my candidate for the universal law for humanity and the universe)
- the problems of the past will not be fixed by those who created them. Get into positions of power comensurate with your knowledge and experience and leverage them to do good, fun and usefull things
- Share your knowledge and teach others

To do these things you will need the following;
- First principles and fundamentals are the key to understanding things. Don't stop learning; and verify and validate always 
- Use what you build
- Master data management (DIKW) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIKW_pyramid
- You can always depend on the scientific method. It is the only dependable method of knowing and doing IMHO (and I'm in my 5th decade of work)
- and finally you will need curiosity and tenacity to see things through to a conclusion

You are the future of AI. What exciting things will you do?

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# Appropo
## Talking Points
future of AI in Australia and globally
- ML vs AI - Some Definitions
- Ethics and Legislation and FUD
- Usefullness
- How we got to here
- Call to Action

## Definitions
AI - Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines to perform tasks that are typically associated with human intelligence, such as learning and problem-solving. from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence

GAI - An artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a hypothetical type of intelligent agent.[1] If realized, an AGI could learn to accomplish any intellectual task that human beings or animals can perform. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_general_intelligence

ML - Machine learning (ML) is an umbrella term for solving problems for which development of algorithms by human programmers would be cost-prohibitive, and instead the problems are solved by helping machines 'discover' their 'own' algorithms,[1] without needing to be explicitly told what to do by any human-developed algorithms. (cited for Arthur Samuel 1959) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_learning

This type of inanimate definition of AI is confusing. ML is descriptive, the machines are learning. AI, for the author, is self replicating, self healing and self adaptive and able to compete with, and against other lifeforms. BUT AI is a good marketing term for the masses of what is just ML.

## Ethics, Legislation and FUD
- This legislation is not a good example of public policy Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Act 2018 from https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2021C00496/
- It appears the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment is being used to deal with some entities https://www.itnews.com.au/news/australian-authorities-tire-of-excuses-delays-on-data-breach-disclosure-599896
- Thankfully the senate is avoiding creation of legislation before they understand the space https://www.itnews.com.au/news/senate-committee-urges-digital-assets-bill-not-be-passed-599911
- STEM Literacy of Decision makers, legislation and managers is insufficient in Australia. Here's some data that highlights the challenges https://theconversation.com/australian-classrooms-are-among-the-least-favourable-for-discipline-in-the-oecd-heres-how-to-improve-student-behaviour-202946 . The Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, has no science background. Is it any wonder that strategic STEM initiatives like this get axed https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-29/labor-axes-morrison-government-satellite-program/102538686
- Henry Kissinger explains how to avoid world war three https://www.economist.com/briefing/2023/05/17/henry-kissinger-explains-how-to-avoid-world-war-three?utm_source=pocket_saves He's also writing a book on AI and he is now over 100 years old. A polarising figure in global politics but we can learn a lot from history.
- An example of AI FUD AI systems have learned how to deceive humans. What does that mean for our future? https://theconversation.com/ai-systems-have-learned-how-to-deceive-humans-what-does-that-mean-for-our-future-212197
- Here's the European take on AI and legislation. https://www.covingtondigitalhealth.com/2021/05/european-commission-proposes-new-artificial-intelligence-regulation/
- Finally some data about GenAI from the US Air Force and Verdict Media titled Generative AI – beyond the hype https://www.airforce-technology.com/comment/generative-ai-beyond-the-hype/?cf-view

## Quotes
- 'As soon as an Analytical Engine exists, it will necessarily guide the future course of the science. Whenever any result is sought by its aid, the question will then arise — by what course of calculation can these results be arrived at by the machine in the shortest time? ' Charles Babbage 1864 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Technology/Selected_quote/5
- ' If we continue to develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our servant may prove to be our executioner. ' General Omar Bradley 1948 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Technology/Selected_quote/6
- 'Technology will move faster than governments, so don't legislate before you understand the consequences. ' Eric Schmidt 2011 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Technology/Selected_quote

## Opportunities and Use Cases
Author's ML topics of interest

### autonomous and advanced manufacturing
- OpenAI releases Point-E, an AI that generates 3D models https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/20/openai-releases-point-e-an-ai-that-generates-3d-models/ pairs well with 10 Best Cheap 3D Scanners 2023 (That Work Well)https://www.3dsourced.com/3d-scanners/cheap-3d-scanner/
- I'm personally not a fan of the patent system. I have to disclose my idea and then I have to police infringement. The Patent system is mostly used as a means of putting a number to the value of IP without recognising that a patent itself is not the thing. But we are seeing innovation in the patent space using AI. In a world first, South Africa grants patent to an artificial intelligence system https://theconversation.com/in-a-world-first-south-africa-grants-patent-to-an-artificial-intelligence-system-165623

### assisting the elderly, injured and disabled
- Meet Med-Flamingo: A Unique Foundation Model which is Capable of Performing Multimodal in-context Learning Specialized for the Medical Domain https://www.marktechpost.com/2023/08/02/meet-med-flamingo-a-unique-foundation-model-which-is-capable-of-performing-multimodal-in-context-learning-specialized-for-the-medical-domain
- World's first mass-produced humanoid robot? China start-up Fourier Intelligence eyes two-legged robots with AI brains https://finance.yahoo.com/news/worlds-first-mass-produced-humanoid-093000836.html
- I like the idea of a home based robot companion like the Amazon Astro https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Amazon-Astro/dp/B078NSDFSB; but their remains a focus on FUD even in  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Astro

### coding assistants
- https://aws.amazon.com/codewhisperer/

### creative writing and movie making
- The AI generated movie, the Frost, is quite entertaining, but somewhat formulaic https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/06/01/1073858/surreal-ai-generative-video-changing-film/
- AI as writing assistant https://www.theverge.com/c/23194235/ai-fiction-writing-amazon-kindle-sudowrite-jasper
- Using midjourney to create comics and anime https://www.aidemos.info/making-comic-strip-with-midjourney-ai/ and https://docs.midjourney.com/docs/quick-start

### learning assistants
- French OECD GenAI in the classroom https://issuu.com/oecd.publishing/docs/genai_in_the_classroom?fr=xKAE9_4SEAA
- Boston Consulting summary on GenAI for Higher Ed https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/five-ways-education-can-leverage-gen-ai

### defence, military and disaster response C4ISR capabilities
- Meet 'Pibot,' the humanoid robot that can safely pilot an airplane better than a human  https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/08/15/meet-pibot-the-humanoid-robot-that-can-safely-pilot-an-airplane-better-than-a-human?utm_source=pocket_reader
- Very basic article titled Progressing an artificial advantage: Battlefield AI and C4ISR support (Sponsored) https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/digital-battlespace/progressing-an-artificial-advantage-battlefield-ai-and-c4isr-support-sponsored/
- From the Military Times on GenAI and C4ISR titled https://www.militarytimes.com/video/2023/05/01/whats-next-for-experimental-ai-projects-in-the-c4isr-sphere/
- There is not a lot published in this space. There is nothing in a scholar.google.com search for C4ISR AND GenAI. In the 2020s innovation is no longer the domain of well funded government programs. The absence of information is information too.
- AWS Disaster Response has been active in the Carribean and Latin America for many years. Summarised in Creating real-time flood alerts with the cloud https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/publicsector/creating-real-time-flood-alerts-cloud/
- The author is an Amateur radio, Ham and Marine Radio operator. Here is a good example of how amateur radio meets the cloud in Amateur radio meets edge computing to keep disaster response teams connected https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/publicsector/amateur-radio-meets-edge-computing-keep-disaster-response-teams-connected/
- Accelerate disaster response with computer vision for satellite imagery using Amazon SageMaker and Amazon Augmented AI https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/machine-learning/accelerate-disaster-response-with-computer-vision-for-satellite-imagery-using-amazon-sagemaker-and-amazon-augmented-ai/
- How to detect wildfire smoke using Amazon Rekognition https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/publicsector/detect-wildfire-smoke-using-amazon-rekognition/

### Some other ML topics
- Why Meta’s latest large language model survived only three days online https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/11/18/1063487/meta-large-language-model-ai-only-survived-three-days-gpt-3-science/
