Intelligent Systems: Design and Ethical Challenges

Barbara J. Grosz
Higgins Professor of Natural Sciences, Harvard University

Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar

For centuries, people have imagined smart machines inhabiting the earth in fictional stories. Computer systems now communicate in speech and text, learn, negotiate, and work in teams (with people and other systems). These intelligent-systems capabilities raise questions about the effects of such systems on people, their communities and societies at large. This talk will describe some basic AI techniques in the context of (science) fiction imaginings and examine their strengths and weaknesses, with the goal of illustrating ways to distinguish fact from fiction. The talk will also discuss ethical challenges these technologies pose, and examine the roles of design and of policy in increasing benefit and reducing potential negative impacts.