Introduction to MIT Generative AI Week
In late November, MIT hosted a week-long event called MIT Generative AI Week, which brought together faculty, staff, and students from across the university to discuss the opportunities and potential applications of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The event included a flagship symposium and four subject-specific symposia, all aimed at fostering a dialogue about the impact of generative AI on various disciplines.
Events and Activities
The week kicked off with a flagship symposium, MIT Generative AI: Shaping the Future, which featured welcoming remarks from MIT President Sally Kornbluth and keynote speakers Professor Emeritus Rodney Brooks and media artist Refik Anadol. The symposium included panel and roundtable discussions on topics such as generative AI foundations, science fiction, and ethics.
Flagship Symposium
The flagship symposium was chaired by Daniela Rus, the Andrew (1956) and Erna Viterbi Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and co-chaired by Cynthia Breazeal, MIT dean for digital learning, and Sertac Karaman, professor of aeronautics and astronautics. The event concluded with a performance by saxophonist and composer Paul Winter.
Documentaries and Discussions
The first day of MIT Generative AI Week also included a special screening of the documentary "Another Body," which follows a college student’s search for answers and justice after discovering deepfake pornography of herself online. The screening was followed by a panel discussion with the film’s editor, Rabab Haj Yahya, and other experts.
Subject-Specific Symposia
In addition to the flagship symposium, MIT Generative AI Week included four subject-specific symposia:
Generative AI + Education
The Generative AI + Education Symposium explored how generative AI is transforming learning experiences and teaching practices from K-12 to post-secondary education and workforce upskilling. The symposium included a fireside chat on the potential of generative AI to transform learning and education.
Generative AI + Health
The Generative AI + Health Symposium highlighted AI research focused on human health and the health of the planet. The symposium included talks on molecular design, sensing applications, and climate-change projections.
Generative AI + Creativity
The Generative AI + Creativity Symposium explored the potential of generative AI to improve the human condition through combined human and AI systems. The symposium discussed topics such as lifelong creativity, AI legibility, and trustworthy AI.
Generative AI + Impact on Commerce
The Generative AI + Impact on Commerce Symposium explored the impact of AI on the practice of management, featuring researchers, policymakers, venture capitalists, and private equity investors.
Conclusion
MIT Generative AI Week provided a platform for faculty, staff, and students to come together and discuss the opportunities and potential applications of generative AI technologies. The event highlighted the importance of understanding the potential, containing the risks, and harnessing the power of generative AI for good. As MIT President Sally Kornbluth noted, "MIT has a special responsibility to help society come to grips with the tectonic forces of generative AI." The event demonstrated MIT’s commitment to exploring the possibilities and implications of generative AI and its potential to shape the future.
