Penn's Public Interest Technology Initiative hosted a virtual FirePIT chat Thursday about potential applications of artificial intelligence.
The discussion, led by Hollis Robbins, professor of English and special advisor for the humanities at the University of Utah, highlighted the adoption of AI in a variety of fields, including literary analysis and its use in the biological sciences. Robbins also discussed the need to represent people outside the technology realm in AI-related discourse.
The event was hosted by Justin Hurwitz, academic director of the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition at Penn Carey Law School, in collaboration with Dr. Wharton. candidate and SNF Paideia Graduate Student Fellow Rubén Ramírez Salas.
Hurwitz explained that the purpose of the FirePIT chat is to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the issues addressed there.
“What I try to do with these talks is bring people who have worked at the intersection of engineering, public policy, and law to campus via Zoom and have them chat,” Hurwitz said.
Salas hoped attendees would understand the less obvious aspects of technological advances.
“These are conversations about technology and policy, but there is an element of human participation,” Salas explained.
Penn is part of a broader network of universities of technology in the public interest, for which Hurwitz serves as Penn's liaison. Penn's PIT initiative is organized by the SNF Paideia Program, which emphasizes the importance of dialogue in education.
Students in attendance asked Robbins about a variety of experiences, including a dinner with entrepreneur Sam Altman and an underrated piece of poetry.
Regardless of your chosen field, Robbins emphasized the importance of using knowledge gaps as springboards for further exploration.
“You can also make the outline bigger.” [and] “We need to make the boundaries of our questions more inclusive, and that starts with having a theory of knowledge,” Robbins said.
She also expressed the importance of collaboration between disciplines, a sentiment echoed by Hurwitz. Robbins advised students to “partner with people who aren't doing exactly the same thing.” [they’re] I'm doing it, but no one is doing anything similar. ”
Hurwitz added that the technology's “generative nature” means it can be used in a variety of ways, depending on both the knowledge and ability of the user.
“It's very hard to predict how other people will use these things, so that's very important when developing them.” [technologies] It’s about engaging with other people,” he said.
The event ended by reiterating the need for non-technical voices in the tech world. Hurwitz referenced John Perry Barlow's “Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace” as an example of the value of an outside perspective on technological advancement.
The FirePIT chat series will continue next semester with two more events currently planned.
