AI and the Future Symposium: Trust AI?

8 a.m., Hale Library First Floor (in-person only)

Welcome Table Open

8:45-9 a.m., Hale Library, Room 581 (in-person and Zoom)

Welcome and Opening Remarks: Dean of Libraries Joe Mocnik

*Coffee and snacks sponsored by the Department of Computer Science.

9-10:15 a.m., Hale Library, Room 581 (in-person and Zoom)

Opening Keynote: Trust in AI: In Our Own Image?

Speaker: Janna Hastings, assistant professor of medical knowledge and decision support, University of St. Gallen, Zurich

Description: Modern AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are able to produce outputs that, in some cases, appear remarkably human-like. However, under the hood they operate in very different ways from human intelligence. This presentation will dissect these differences, drawing on examples from different AI approaches with a particular emphasis on models that are able to generate and interpret text and images, and ask the question of when these differences matter for trust.

10:25-11:15 a.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person only)

Interactive Demonstration: Unlocking the Power of Prompt Engineering: Guiding Generative AI for Desired Outputs

Facilitator: Muhammad Ali Shafique, doctoral student, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University

Description: What is prompt engineering?

Generative AI models are flexible, and they can perform various tasks such as summarizing documents, completing sentences and answering questions. They start generating output when specific user input (prompt) is given. Users can interact with these models in countless ways, and these powerful models do not need much to start creating content — even a single word can produce a detailed response. Therefore, not all inputs lead to desirable outputs. Generative AI models need clear context and detailed information to produce relevant responses. The process of refining the prompts to achieve the desired results is called prompt engineering.

Why is prompt engineering important?

• Enhanced performance:  Optimizes AI model responses by guiding models to generate more coherent, accurate and desired outputs.
• Task specialization:  Tailors AI model behavior for specific tasks, improving effectiveness.
• Error reduction:  Reduces the likelihood of incorrect or irrelevant outputs by providing clear instructions.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Panel: ID3A: AI and Digital Agriculture

Panelists: Ignacio Ciampitti, Romulo Lollato, Hande McGinty, Ajay Sharda and Brian Spiesman, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University

Description: We report on recent efforts on AI and digital agriculture at K-State, including an overview of the Institute for Digital Agriculture and Applied Analytics (ID3A) and several ongoing research projects in the colleges of engineering and agriculture that were funded by the K-State Game-Changing Research Initiative Program (GRIP).

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11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., (Zoom only)

Virtual Workshop: Writerly Voice in AI Times

Facilitators: Cydney Alexis, associate professor, and Theresa Merrick, assistant director of the Writing Center and outreach coordinator, Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences, Kansas State University

Description: In this presentation, we discuss how writer voice, style and identity might be re-conceptualized in AI times. What we hold in high regard about voice and individuality is value-laden and often disciplinary; one person might not see the encroachment of AI on the writing process as limiting, but rather an expansion of potential, while another might be concerned about AI’s effects on privacy and human creativity. Ideas about voice and identity will develop with AI’s rapid advancements, permanently altering the way people understand writerly voice and style, and with this will come losses and gains. We explore these topics through a generative discussion, presentation of qualitative data and a sandbox session in which we interact with a few emergent AI tools.

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Lunch Break (lunch not provided)

2:15-3:30 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Panel: USDA Panel

Panelists: Ronnie Serfa Juan, research scientist; Austin Weigle and Alison Gerken, research ecologists; and David Molik, computational biologist for the USDA ARS Arthropod-borne Animal Disease Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

Description: Speakers from USDA will present on different aspects of AI work at the USDA and will be available for questions. Panelists’ talk titles:

• Ronnie Serfa Juan - "The Trustworthy Perspective of the 'AI Lens': AI's Impact on Object Detection and Analysis"
• Austin Weigle - "Allostery and Attention Weights Display Molecular Basis for Immunotoxicity in Gliadin Peptides"
• Alison Gerken - "AI for Trap Automation, Image Detection and Population Risk Assessment from an Insect Ecologist's Perspective"
• David Molik - “Determining Confidence of Gene Regulatory Pathways in Non-model Systems: Solving the Data Sparsity Problem /for/ Genetic Insect Pest Management"

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3:40-5 p.m., Hale Library, First Floor (in-person only)

Poster Session: AI Research at K-State

*Coffee and snacks sponsored by the Department of Computer Science.

Dinner Break (dinner not provided)

7-8 p.m., Manhattan Public Library Auditorium (in-person only)

Townhall: Community Conversation on Trust and AI

Panelists: Alice Anderson, Kevin Gaugler, Bruce Glymour, Janna Hastings, Pascal Hitzler and Cody Wassenberg (Manhattan Public Library) 

Description: A panel of humanities and AI experts will have an open conversation with the community regarding concerns, hopes and questions about AI in our society.

The panel will discuss the topic of trusting AI. This project aims to democratize artificial intelligence across campus and in the community. The goal is to connect diverse audiences to learn about and experience new AI developments while discussing ethical issues and whether or not AI is trustworthy. 

This is a town-hall style meeting where the community can engage with scholars and ask questions related to AI.

13 WIBW TV report

8 a.m. Hale Library First Floor (in-person only)

Welcome Table opens

*Coffee and snacks sponsored by ID3A.

9-9:50 a.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Panel: Beyond the Books: AI and Academic Honesty

Panelists: Camilla Roberts, director of Honor and Integrity Systems, Kansas State University; Valerie Denney, Emery Riddle Aeronautical University; Chris Bryson, University of Arkansas; and Jason Endacott, University of Arkansas

Description: This panel, moderated by Camilla Roberts, will explore the necessity of higher education using and teaching artificial intelligence in an ethical way as a building block to their future, beyond the books of school.

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10-10:50 a.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Talk: AI and the Advising Experience

Presenters: Robert Pettay, advising coordinator, and Ashley Blake, communication coordinator and academic advisor, Kansas State University

Description: Artificial intelligence will play a role in all aspects of the university experience, including the advising and guidance of students. AI is currently used in advising resources and for communication with students on their academic plan and academic options. This session will outline how and where AI is currently being utilized in this critical academic experience and will then do guided brainstorming on how AI can be implemented in advising and how AI should be implemented in advising. The session will include background and planning on ways to best use the tools available to enhance the student experience. Half of the time will be spent on an overview of how AI in advising is being utilized at other institutions and at K-State, and the other half will be dedicated to guided brainstorming. Guided brainstorming entails giving potential scenarios and having participants think through messaging and how AI resources would work in those scenarios. Part of this will be looking at some of the AI programs available currently and how they could be used or modified for what we do at K-State.

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11-11:50 a.m., Hale Library, Friends of the K-State Libraries Instruction Room 359 (in-person only)

In-Person Workshop: Navigating the Artificial Intelligence Frontier: ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Your Future

Facilitator: Brandon Savage, Department of Management, College of Business, Kansas State University

Description: Whether you're an artist, an aspiring engineer, working to improve crop yields or a future business leader, this course is for you. Learn how artificial intelligence and machine learning — specifically chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Microsoft CoPilot — are becoming game-changers across various fields. Imagine being a journalist who uses AI to analyze public sentiment or a healthcare professional leveraging AI for predictive diagnostics. We'll explore how AI can be harnessed and explore practical ways that generative AI can be used in our lives. We will spend time with hands-on prompt writing and discussion to think critically and creatively about the technology shaping our world.

Noon-1 p.m., (Zoom only)

Virtual Workshop: AI in Teaching and Learning

*Any in-person attendants interested in joining the workshop are welcome to use the computers in Hale 359 to participate in the workshop. Online attendees will join via Zoom.

Presenters: Cydney Alexis, associate professor of English, and Theresa Merrick Cassidy, Writing Center assistant director and senior instructor of English

Description: This event will discuss the ways in which we, as instructors, can balance both the challenges and opportunities AI presents in higher education to promote teaching excellence.

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Lunch Break (lunch not provided)

2-2:50 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Talk: Creating with Machines We Trust: Computational Creativity and Relational Dynamics with AI in Education

Presenter: Jeongki Lim, assistant professor of strategic design and management, associate  dean of School of Design Strategies, Parsons School of Design, New York

Description: As artificial intelligence applications are becoming ubiquitous in every aspect of our daily lives, can we trust them in our classroom and creative works that we once thought only humans capable of? In this presentation, we explore the field of computational creativity, multidisciplinary research that seeks to understand the nature of creativity through making the machine that can create. We will examine the latest research that focuses on the relational dynamics between humans and machines as they engage in creative learning activities and discuss the pedagogical implication on how the technology can be meaningfully integrated into educational spaces. The presentation welcomes participants from all disciplinary backgrounds; no technical background is required.

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3-3:50 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Talk: Research and Data: Using AI to Maximize Your Work

Presenters: Julie L. Pentz, professor of dance, and K-State undergraduate researchers with TAP (Togetherness Across Populations), School of Music, Theatre and Dance, Kansas State University

Description: Using artificial intelligence to support research efforts enhances efficiency and accuracy, especially when using specific coding systems for data collection. It processes vast amounts of data swiftly, identifying trends and correlations that may be missed manually. Over time, AI can refine data collection methods, adapting to new information and improving the quality of data. This presentation will share how AI was used to analyze large amounts of coding data from a physical literacy study that was conducted by Tap To Togetherness Across Populations.

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4:30-5:45 p.m., Hale Library, Room 581 (in-person and Zoom)

Keynote: Quixotic Conversations: A Communicative Approach to the Machine and the Humanities

Speaker: Kevin Gaugler, professor of Spanish and assistant dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York

Description: This address explores how the humanities can engage with artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs) through critical analysis and dialogue. Equipped with skills in deconstructing texts, multilingualism, interpersonal communication and intercultural competency, those who study languages and literatures are uniquely prepared to build productive and responsive relationships with these new digital entities. By examining the affordances of AI, we will explore the evolving dynamics between humanists and machines, highlighting how these interactions can foster trust and lead to a deeper understanding and more innovative approaches to language learning and the humanities.

*Coffee and snacks sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages.

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8 a.m., Hale Library, First Floor (in-person only)

Welcome Table Open

8:45-9 a.m., Hale Library, Room 581 (in-person and Zoom)

Closing Remarks: Stacy Hutchinson, associate dean for research, College of Engineering

Watch the "Participatory AI" keynote to view closing remarks.

9-10:15 a.m., Hale Library, Room 581 (in-person and Zoom)

Keynote: Participatory AI

Speaker: Min Kyung Lee, assistant professor, School of Information, University of Texas at Austin

Description: As artificial intelligence continues to impact every aspect of our lives, it is crucial to ensure its development aligns with the priorities and values of diverse communities and users. In this talk, I will present several case studies in which our research team explores different methods to understand the priorities and preferences of stakeholders, such as gig workers, community members and policymakers, and incorporate these insights into the design of AI systems, ranging from labor platforms to urban air mobility infrastructure. Drawing from these case studies, I will share reflections on the opportunities and challenges of participatory AI.

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10:30-11:45 a.m., Hale Library, Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab (in-person only)

Experience: AI Tools Petting Zoo

Description: Are generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini just hype, or are they representatives of a transformative technology that will shape the future? Come to this AI Petting Zoo to decide for yourself!

Test out AI tools with (AI)brarian experts Alice Anderson, Jason Coleman and Carol Sevin, and Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab director Jeff Sheldon.

*Coffee and snacks sponsored by IOS Press.

Noon-1 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Panel: Artificial Intelligence and Precision Agriculture Technologies for Soil-Water-Energy Nexus

Panelists: Gaurav Jha, Sourajit Dey, Pascal Hitzler, Sarah Lancaster, Davood Pourkargar, Vaishali Sharda and Sophie Westbrook

Description: Artificial intelligence and precision agriculture technologies represent an important integration and tool useful in addressing the intricate interdependencies of soil, water and energy in farming practices. This panel discussion will focus on the transformative potential of AI-driven solutions for optimizing agricultural efficiency and sustainability within the soil-water-energy nexus. By using AI algorithms for real-time data analysis and decision-making, farmers can enhance soil health, improve water management practices and adopt energy-efficient farming techniques. Despite the myriad benefits, challenges such as technological barriers, data privacy concerns and accessibility issues need to be addressed through collaborative efforts among researchers, policymakers and industry stakeholders. Through this dialogue, we aim to explore the opportunities and pathways for using AI and precision agriculture in mainstream farming practices, ultimately targeting for a more resilient and sustainable agricultural system for the future.

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Lunch Break (lunch not provided)

2-2:50 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Panel: Missing in the Algorithm: An Examination of Archival Silence in AI Environments

Panelists: Cliff Hight, department head of the Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, and Ryan Leimkuehler, university archivist, K-State Libraries

Description: The concept of archival silence has developed since the late 1990s to mean “a gap in the historical record resulting from the unintentional or purposeful absence or distortion of documentation” (Dictionary of Archives Terminology, "Archival Silence"). These absences and distortions are amplified in AI settings for a variety of reasons. The presenters will examine these issues, provide guiding principles to work within such constraints and share actual and potential remedies to reduce the gaps and improve outputs generated by AI tools.

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3-3:50 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181 (in-person and Zoom)

Talk: Procedural Justice in Machine Learning-Based Personnel Selection

Presenter: Jin Lee, lab director of Lee Lab, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kansas State University

Description: Machine learning (ML) uses mathematical algorithms to identify relationships between predictors (e.g., cognitive ability, job knowledge) and outcomes (e.g., job performance), enhancing prediction accuracy in new datasets. ML benefits personnel selection through flexibility, adaptability and handling complex predictor interactions without linearity or distributional assumptions. It improves decision-making and fairness by analyzing candidate data objectively. However, ML has limitations, such as determining the best method, overfitting and lack of theoretical foundations. Thus, ML should support human decision-making with oversight to ensure ethical use. This talk addresses three key points: potential procedural justice issues from differing ML predictions, a solution using a distance-based (D statistics) approach to reconcile conflicting ML recommendations and a comparison of procedural justice perceptions between a single ML method and the integrative approach.

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4-5:30 p.m., Hale Library, Room 581 (in-person and Zoom)

Keynote: Cultivating an AI Ethics Ecosystem

Speaker: Jeff Behrends, senior research scholar, associate senior lecturer on philosophy and director of ethics and technology initiatives, The Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Department of Philosophy, Harvard University

Description: It is commonplace by now to observe that the research, design and deployment of recent AI systems are replete with ethical failings. Less obvious is that such shortcomings are not limited to those cases in which some agent or other (whether individual or group, government or private, for-profit or not) has simply failed to act conscientiously. Many well-intentioned actors, while devoting significant resources to behaving responsibly, still err. In this talk, I'll identify several recurring ethical failure modes and provide a partial diagnosis for their recurrence. Then I'll use that diagnosis to motivate a concentrated effort to cultivate an  AI ethics ecosystem, a cross-sectoral network that orients its members toward a common set of foundational values, researches and trains its members with respect to the operationalization of those values in particular contexts, provides some form of governance and oversight, and more generally organizes and manages the necessary division of labor for adequately managing AI research, development and deployment in a responsible way. Drawing primarily on the history and performance of health ethics ecosystems, I conclude with a modest attempt to show that such an ecosystem could, in fact, be developed for AI ethics, that the shortfalls of existing ethics ecosystems aren't as bad as they seem and that failing to deliberately cultivate an AI ethics ecosystem will likely have bad consequences.

*Coffee and snacks sponsored by the Department of Philosophy.

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