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AI and the Future Symposium: Trust AI?
Oct. 15-17, 2024
The AI and the Future Symposium is a free, three-day event featuring a variety of panels, lightning talks and workshops. It offers a way for the K-State and Manhattan communities to expand their knowledge of AI. Participants will learn about recent advances in AI, how AI can be used for educational purposes, AI applications in various disciplines including agriculture, engineering and the humanities, as well as some of the ethical issues surrounding AI.
This event is free to attend.
Keynote speakers
Janna Hastings
Janna Hastings is a computer scientist and psychologist who studies the interface between technology and humans in medicine as an assistant professor of medical knowledge and decision support at the Universities of St. Gallen and Zurich. She obtained a doctorate in computational biology from the University of Cambridge, UK, and masters' degrees in both computer science and philosophy. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence for medical applications, with an emphasis on how novel technologies can be safely applied for clinical work and biomedical discovery. She is particularly interested in multi-modal models, such as those that combine language and images.
Kevin Gaugler
Kevin Gaugler, professor of Spanish and assistant dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, holds a doctorate in Spanish literature and film from the University of Connecticut. He began experimenting with technology and language teaching as a graduate student through the university's language center. After nearly two decades of this experimentation, Gaugler's methodologies have been featured in publications such as Campus Technology Magazine, The Language Educator, and Foreign Language Annals, as well as on platforms including National Public Radio and PBS. He is a former recipient of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages' Award for Excellence in Teaching with Technology. He is the author of the technology chapter in the latest edition of the "Teacher's Handbook: Contextualized Language Instruction". Since 2022, Gaugler has been regularly speaking on the topic of generative artificial intelligence and the humanities.
Min Kyung Lee
Min Kyung Lee is an assistant professor in the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin. She has been a director of a Human-AI Interaction Lab since 2016. Lee has conducted some of the first studies that empirically examine the social implications of algorithms’ emerging roles in management and governance in society. She has extensive expertise in developing theories, methods and tools for human-centered AI and deploying them in practice through collaboration with real-world stakeholders and organizations. She developed a participatory framework that empowers community members to design matching algorithms that govern their own communities.
Jeffrey Behrends
Jeff Behrends is a senior research scholar and associate senior lecturer in philosophy at Harvard University. He served for several years as the Director of Ethics and Technology Initiatives at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics, and works closely with Embedded EthiCS, a program that integrates technical and normative education in the computer science curriculum. Behrends' active research areas include the metaphysics of practical reasons and the applied ethics of computing technology.
Registration
Registration is free but required.
In-person attendance
Once you have registered, you may attend the in-person event by following the schedule below and arriving at the location indicated for the session. Two sessions are presented only through Zoom. Viewing rooms are provided to those who wish to watch from Hale Library.
Online attendance
Almost all of the sessions are offered both in person and via Zoom. These are indicated in the schedule. To attend these via Zoom, register for the session and use the Zoom link provided after registration. Two sessions are presented only through Zoom. Each of those sessions use a different Zoom link as indicated in the schedule. You will be able to ask questions of the presenters at the end of each Zoom session.
Virtual workshop
If you are interested in the “Writerly Voice in AI Times” 90-minute virtual workshop, please register separately for that session.
T-shirt design contest winner and runner-ups
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Symposium committee has selected a winner for the T-Shirt Design Contest! The committee was very impressed with the designs that were submitted and appreciated everyone who participated in the contest.
The winner of this year's T-Shirt design contest is Ke Dong!
Ke Dong used Stable Cascade and Getimg.ai and the prompt "An electronic brain merging in colorful circuit board patterns with the color of blue, light green, and pink. Tiny circles in different color surrounding the electronic brain. Add elements like books, lightbulbs, or digital waves. Text 'Trust AI?' in center. [Negative Prompt]: Real Brian, dark, overly complex or cluttered elements. dystopian or negative imagery related to AI, like robots taking over, digital chaos, or any aggressive or intimidating elements" to generate the image below which will be printed on this year's AI Symposium T-shirts.
There were also three runner-ups whose designs will be available as stickers at the Welcome Table during the AI Symposium.
The runner-ups and their corresponding designs are below:
Samatha Ereshi Akkamahadevi, Raksa Ma and Moumita Sen Sarma
Thank you to everyone who submitted designs for the T-shirt design contest!
Call for posters
We invite researchers and scholars currently engaged in research related to artificial intelligence to submit abstracts and participate in the poster session during the K-State AI Symposium. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- machine learning and deep learning
- natural language processing
- computer vision and pattern recognition
- robotics and autonomous systems
- AI ethics and fairness
- explainable AI and interpretability
- AI for healthcare and biomedicine
- AI for social good and sustainability
- reinforcement learning
- AI in gaming and entertainment
- AI in cybersecurity and privacy
- AI in agriculture
Submission guidelines
To be considered for the poster presentation session, please submit an abstract of your research. The abstract should be no more than 250 words and should include a title, author(s) name(s) and affiliation(s). Clearly state your research's purpose, methods, results and conclusions (if any).
The submission portal can be accessed through this Google form.
Important dates
- Deadline for submissions: Sept. 22, 2024
- Acceptance notification: Oct. 4, 2024
Benefits of participation
- Opportunity to showcase your research to a diverse audience of AI experts, enthusiasts and community members.
- Network and engage with fellow doctoral students, faculty members and industry professionals.
- Gain valuable feedback and insights from seasoned researchers in the field.
- Enhance your presentation and communication skills.
- Eligibility for awards and recognition for outstanding contributions.
We'd like to encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity to contribute to the K-State AI Symposium. Your participation will enrich the symposium and help AI research grow at K-State.
If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out to the poster session coordinators, Abhilekha Dalal at adalal@k-state.edu and Sanaz Saki Norouzi at sanazsn@k-state.edu. We would be happy to provide any necessary support to help you participate. We look forward to your active involvement in the K-State AI Symposium and exploring the innovative research that will shape the future of artificial intelligence.
Become a sponsor
Are you interested in sponsoring the 2024 AI and the Future Symposium? Please contact Pascal Hitzler at hitzler@k-state.edu to learn more.
You can also learn more about what to expect from this event by reviewing the 2023 AI and the Future Symposium webpage.
Schedule and recordings
Tuesday, Oct. 15
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?
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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). |
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. |
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:
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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. |
Wednesday, Oct. 16
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Thursday, Oct. 17
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Parking
Parking is available in the K-State parking garage at 706 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Manhattan, Kansas. You can learn more and purchase temporary parking passes by visiting K-State's parking website.
Publicity statement
Registration for this event gives consent for photographs, publicity and inclusion on the participant list unless the symposium organizers are notified in writing prior to the start date. Please email raehale@k-state.edu for more information.
Special assistance and concerns
For participants who need accommodations due to a disability, early notification is requested to ensure appropriate accommodations can be provided. If you have questions or need additional information regarding special assistance or administrative policies, please contact raehale@k-state.edu.
Current sponsors
Partners
This symposium is a partnership between K-State's Department of Modern Languages, K-State's Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, K-State's Department of Computer Science, K-State Libraries, K-State's Department of Philosophy, K-State's College of Arts and Sciences, and the Manhattan Public Library.
Event organizers include Raelynne Hale, assistant professor in the Department of Modern Languages; Alice Anderson, instructional designer II at K-State Libraries; Jason Coleman, academic services librarian at K-State Libraries; Pascal Hitzler, director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; Carol Sevin, academic services librarian at K-State Libraries; and Eugene Vasserman, director of the Center for Cybersecurity and Trustworthy Systems.