Obama on Technology, AI and an Optimistic Future

President Obama chatting with Ito and Scott Dadich

“This year, Artificial Intelligence will become more than just a computer science problem. Everybody need to understand how A.I. behaves.”

Recent advances in computer science and AI (more specifically advances in building and running large convolutional neural networks) have given a fresh fodder to the age old debate on how technology is replacing workers and making us all obsolete. The current political climate only amplifies the anxiety and generates FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) about our collective future. So it’s very refreshing to see President Obama re-framing the discussion in this Wired article and talking about common humanity and a confidence in our ability to solve problems. If one can ignore the media hype and peek below the surface there are real opportunities to build solutions to many seemingly intractable problems.

Machine learning, data mining and deep learning techniques can nudge us to lead healthier lives, change our habits and build stronger communities. Imagine AI powered tools that remind us in context of whatever we are doing in our daily lives to consider factors that we may have missed, overcome biases in thinking fast and slow, present information in ways that helps us build better financial portfolios that are in our long term interests, prevents us from being defrauded or phished or scammed online, helps us communicate with every one one the planet crossing language boundaries and more. That’s the optimistic future we can aspire to and it’s refreshing to see this possibility being talked about.

President Obama chatting with Ito and Scott Dadich

Read the full article on Wired.com