A new video, part of University Communications’ “Understood” series, delves into the question of whether artificial intelligence can replace humans and whether humans can trust AI.
This video explores data science academic initiatives and UO’s new computer and data science department. His Ramón Alvarado, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and part of the Presidential Initiative in Data Science, is featured in the video. He teaches courses on internet and society and data ethics to both philosophy and computer science students.
Videographer Chris Larsen worked with Alvarado and ultimately focused on the black box concept. Black boxes present the mysteries of machine learning and raise the question of trust in artificial intelligence.
For example, if AI performs a cheaper and more accurate task than humans, does that mean we should replace humans with AI? Alvarado says no. He said that sometimes it’s okay to use AI as a useful tool, but AI shouldn’t replace humans.
Alvarado compares AI to pigeons trained to identify cancer in radiation scans. When the researchers tabulated the pigeons’ results, they found that the pigeons actually performed better than he AI at identifying cancer. But like AI, pigeons are still black boxes. We don’t understand that process.
Alvarado takes this argument a step further by saying that people shouldn’t trust AI or pigeons, but they can trust fruit flies. Drosophila antennae can detect cancer cells. The process is understood. Not opaque.
“I hope this video helps viewers think about AI from a new perspective and ask new questions about these new tools,” said Larsen. “It was fun to animate the pigeons and fruit flies. I’ve never done anything like that before.”
The “Understood” series is available on UO’s YouTube channel. Past episodes have covered topics such as interpreting music, the impact of icebergs on the ocean, and the study of bionic vision.
