iRobot co-founder and MIT Professor Emeritus, Rodney Brooks, warned about overestimating the capabilities of generative AI during a keynote speech at the “Generative AI: Shaping the Future” symposium. This marked the start of MIT’s Generative AI Week, which aimed to examine the potential of AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.
Generative AI refers to machine-learning models that are capable of generating material such as human-like creative writing, realistic images from text prompts, functional computer codes, and accurate language translations. The technology has great potential, especially in making significant impacts in areas such as education. Generally, the symposium explored the positive possibilities offered by generative AI, warning about the potential pitfalls if these tools aren’t responsibly developed.
At the event, MIT President Sally Kornbluth spoke about various projects faculty and students are involved in, utilizing generative AI to make a positive global impact. She added that collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers is critical for safely integrating emerging technologies like generative AI to solve human problems.
In his keynote speech, Brooks discussed the scientific aspects of generative AI and its implications. He demystified how these AI tools work and argued that while these tools have impressive capabilities, they can’t do everything, nor will they lead to artificial general intelligence alone. He expressed concerns about AI researchers discarding decades worth of excellent work in favor of the new shiny advancements in generative AI and cautioned about overestimation of the technology.
Several MIT faculty members also spoke about their work with generative AI and participated in a discussion about future advancements, emerging research topics, and the challenges of AI regulation and policy. They noted the potential for future research to include integrating perceptual systems and engaging with policymakers and the public for responsible production and deployment of generative AI tools.
The future of AI, its safety, and our trust in AI tools were also debated at a roundtable discussion. Professor Max Tegmark argued that ensuring AI tools meet the criteria people insist on would eliminate fears about creating powerful systems.
