MIT and IBM Launch Inaugural AI Research Week
The MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab hosts its first AI Research Week to showcase cutting-edge artificial intelligence projects. The event gathers global experts to discuss ethics, quantum computing, and real-world AI applications.
The MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab hosts its inaugural AI Research Week this October in Cambridge, Massachusetts, marking the one-year anniversary of the joint initiative. Backed by a 10-year, $240 million investment from IBM, the lab currently spearheads 48 research projects aimed at driving fundamental advances in artificial intelligence. The technical gathering brings together researchers from around the world to share developments that shape the future of the field.
The week kicks off with a networking session where scientists showcase projects designed to tackle real-world problems, ranging from preventing food spoilage to combating the opioid epidemic. The AI Horizons Colloquium follows, featuring high-profile keynotes and panels led by prominent figures like former US Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith and MIT Media Lab Director Joi Ito. Ito leads a specific discussion on fairness in machine learning alongside IBM's AI Ethics Global Leader Francesca Rossi.
Other notable speakers explore the frontiers of AI capabilities, including MIT professor Josh Tenenbaum discussing how to build machines that think like humans. Additionally, AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio presents his research on language understanding and joins MIT's Peter Shor for a panel on the intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Portions of the colloquium are available via livestream for remote audiences.