AI and the Future Symposium

Oct. 16-18, 2023

Program Description

“AI and the Future: Exploring the Intersection of Language(s), Science and Ethics” will be held at Hale Library, with one session taking place at the Manhattan Public Library. This free artificial intelligence symposium, which will feature a variety of panels, lightning talks and workshops, offers a way for the K-State and Manhattan community to expand their knowledge of AI. Participants will learn how AI can be used for educational purposes as well as some of the ethical issues surrounding the topic.

Speakers

Alessandro Oltramari, senior research scientist at Bosch Research in Pittsburgh

Alessandro Oltramari’s expertise includes knowledge representation and reasoning, machine learning, cognitive architectures, computational linguistics and the philosophy of science. Oltramari joined Bosch Research in 2016 after working as a postdoctoral fellow at Carnegie Mellon University. At Bosch Research, he focuses on neuro-symbolic reasoning for decision support. Oltramari’s primary interest is in investigating how knowledge-based systems can be integrated with learning algorithms, and help humans and machines make sense of the physical and digital worlds. Oltramari holds a Ph.D. in cognitive science from the University of Trento in Italy. He had a 10-year tenure at the Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies of the Italian National Research Council (ISTC-CNR), where he maintains an associate researcher position; Oltramari also spent two semesters at Princeton University, in 2005 and 2006, as a visiting scholar.

Oltramari’s research record lists more than 100 publications. He received the Army Research Lab “Above and Beyond” award and has been featured in major news media outlets such as CNET and The New Scientist.

Leilani H. Gilpin, assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz

Leilani H. Gilpin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at UC Santa Cruz. Her research focuses on the design and analysis of methods for autonomous systems to explain themselves. Her work has applications to robust decision-making, system debugging, and accountability.

She holds a PhD in Computer Science from MIT, an M.S. in Computational and Mathematical Engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Mathematics (with honors), B.S. in Computer Science (with highest honors), and a music minor from UC San Diego. Outside of research, Leilani enjoys swimming, cooking, hiking, and org-mode.

Alberto Chimal, writer, professor of creative writing

(Toluca, México, 1970) es escritor y profesor de escritura creativa. Entre otros reconocimientos, en 2002 obtuvo el Premio Nacional de Cuento y en 2014 el Premio de Narrativa Colima, otorgados por el Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes; en 2013 su novela La torre y el jardín fue finalista del Premio Internacional de Novela Rómulo Gallegos; en 2019 su libro para niños La Distante recibió el premio internacional de la Fundación Cuatrogatos, y en 2021 su novela juvenil La noche en la zona M ganó el premio internacional del Banco del Libro. Otras de sus obras son las novelas Los esclavos (2009) y La visitante (2022); una veintena de libros de cuentos, de los que el más reciente es La saga del Viajero del Tiempo (2021); los guiones de las películas 7:19 (2016), dirigida por Jorge Michel Grau, y Confesiones (2023), dirigida por Carlos Carrera; y "Funeral", una historia ilustrada por Rulo Valdés que forma parte de la novela gráfica Batman: El Mundo (2021), publicada por DC Comics. Textos suyos se han traducido a una docena de idiomas y han aparecido en antologías internacionales, incluyendo The Big Book of Modern Fantasy (2020) y The Best of World SF (2022). Su libro más reciente es Scary Story, un libro de narraciones de weird fiction traducido al inglés por D. P. Snyder y publicado por Pamenar Press.

Translated Bio in English:

Alberto Chimal (Toluca, Mexico, 1970) is a writer and professor of creative writing. Among other recognitions, in 2002, he received the National Short Story Award, and in 2014, the Colima Narrative Prize, both granted by the National Institute of Fine Arts. In 2013, his novel La torre y el jardín was a finalist for the Rómulo Gallegos International Novel Prize. In 2019, his children’s book La Distante received the international prize from the Fundación Cuatrogatos, and in 2021, his young adult novel La noche en la zona M won the international award from Banco del Libro. Some of his other works include the novels Los esclavos (2009) and La visitante (2022); more than twenty short story collections, the most recent of which being La saga del Viajero del Tiempo (2021); the screenplays for the films 7:19 (2016), directed by Jorge Michel Grau, and Confesiones (2023), directed by Carlos Carrera; and "Funeral," an illustrated story by Rulo Valdés that is part of the graphic novel Batman: El Mundo (2021), published by DC Comics. His texts have been translated into dozens of languages and have appeared in international anthologies, including The Big Book of Modern Fantasy (2020) and The Best of World SF (2022). His most recent book is Scary Story, a collection of weird fiction narratives translated into English by D. P. Snyder and published by Pamenar Press.

Raquel Castro, writer, journalist, cultural promoter

(Ciudad de México, 1976) es escritora, periodista y promotora cultural. Entre otros reconocimientos, en 2000 y 2001 obtuvo el Premio Nacional de Periodismo dentro del equipo del programa Diálogos en Confianza de Canal Once; en 2012 el Premio de Novela Juvenil Gran Angular por la novela Ojos llenos de sombra, y en 2022 una mención especial en los premios de la Fundación Cuatrogatos por el libro de cuentos El ataque de los zombis (parte mil quinientos). Otras de sus obras son las novelas juveniles Exiliados (2013), Lejos de casa (2013), Dark Doll (2014) y Un beso en tu futuro (2017); el ensayo Cambiamos para ser más como somos (2017), y el libro de cuentos Pirañas del mundo, ¡uníos! (2017). Su libro más reciente es la novela El método infalible para ligarte a quien tú quieras (2021). Sus cuentos han aparecido en antologías de México, Europa y Estados Unidos. Actualmente es miembro del Sistema Nacional de Creadores de Arte e imparte un curso de literatura para jóvenes en el portal Doméstika.

Translated Bio in English:

Raquel Castro (Mexico City, 1976) is a writer, journalist, and cultural promoter. Among other recognitions, in 2000 and 2001, she received the National Journalism Award as part of the Diálogos en Confianza program team on Canal Once. In 2012, she won the Gran Angular Youth Novel Award for the novel Ojos llenos de sombra, and in 2022, she received a special mention in the Fundación Cuatrogatos for the short story collection El ataque de los zombis (parte mil quinientos). Some of her other works include youth novles Exiliados (2013), Lejos de casa (2013), Dark Doll (2014) and Un beso en tu futuro (2017); the essay Cambiamos para ser más como somos (2017), and the short story collection Pirañas del mundo, ¡uníos! (2017). Her most recent publication is the novel El método infalible para ligarte a quien tú quieras (2021). Her short stories have appeared in anthologies in Mexico, Europe, and the United States. She is currently a member of the National System of Art Creators and teaches a literature course for young writers on the Doméstika platform.

Registration

Registration is free but required.

Please register individually for each session you would like to attend within the program schedule below. To view each day's program schedule, click on the drop-down menu for that date for a full listing of the sessions taking place that day. To register, select the registration link for the session you would like to attend and complete the registration process. Once registered, you will receive session reminders via email and, if attending online, the Zoom link for the session.

Monday, Oct. 16 schedule and registrations

9-9:15 a.m., Hale Library, first floor

Welcome Table Open (Registration)

9:15-10:05 a.m., Hale Library, Room 181, and Zoom

Morning Keynote: "Explaining Self-Driving Cars for Accountable Autonomy"

Keynote Speaker: Leilani Gilpin, Assistant Professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11038441

10:05-10:45 a.m., Hale Library, Room 181

“Lightning Talks Showcasing Ph.D. Students from the Computer Science Department”

Chair: Abhilekha Dalal

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11043212

10:45-11 a.m.

Break

11 a.m.-12 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181, and Zoom

“Demystifying AI: Highlights from Computer Science AI Research”

Speakers: Ajay Sharda, Doina Caragea, Lior Shamir, Pascal Hitzler

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11043961

12-1:30 p.m.

Break for lunch

1:30-2:30 p.m., Hale Library, Friends Instruction Room (Room 359), and Zoom

Workshop 1: Research with AI

Hosted by K-State librarians

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11038582

1:30-2:45 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181 and four first-floor conference rooms

Birds of a Feather: Breakout Ad-hoc Discussion Groups

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11038622

2:45-4 p.m., Hale Library, first-floor west wing

AI Projects at K-State Showcase and Coffee Break

No registration required.

4-5 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181, Zoom and virtual viewing at the Manhattan Public Library

Afternoon Keynote: "Of Elephants, Pumpkins and Self-driving Cars: New Trends and Old Problems in AI"

Keynote Speaker: Alessandro Oltramari, Bosch Research, Pittsburgh

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11038673

Tuesday, Oct. 17 schedule and registrations

9-9:30 a.m., Hale Library, first floor

Welcome Table Open

9:30-10:30 a.m., Hale Library, Friends Instruction Room (Room 359) and Zoom

Workshop 2: Experience AI Image Generation

Presented by K-State librarians Alice Anderson, Jason Coleman and Carol Sevin

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11010161

10:30-10:45 a.m.

Break

10:45-11:45 a.m., Hale Library, Friends Instruction Room (Room 359) and Zoom

Workshop 3: Copyright & AI: Do You Agree to the Terms and Conditions?

Presented by K-State librarian Gwen Sibley

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11050695

11:45 a.m.-12 p.m.

Break

12-1 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181, and Zoom

English Department Lightning Talks: "AI and the Writer's Voice"

Hosted by the English Department

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11044173

1-3 p.m.

Break for lunch

3-4 p.m., Zoom

Workshop 4: Language Teaching in the Age of AI: Harnessing the Power of Chat GPT and Artificial Intelligence to Transform Language Education

Presented by Leah Rogstad

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11050722

4:15-5:15 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181, and Zoom

Philosophy Department Panel on Ethics and AI: "AI and Data Ownership: Navigating the Ethical Labyrinth"

Panelists: Jack Himelright, Roger McHaney, Camila Hernandez Florez, J.T. Laverty

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11181575

6:30 p.m.

Travel to Manhattan Public Library

7-8 p.m., Manhattan Public Library, Auditorium

Community Conversation: Questions, Concerns and Applications of AI - Scholars from AI and Related Areas within the Humanities and K-State Librarians

Panelists: Alice Anderson and Jason Coleman (K-State Libraries), Abhilekha Dalal (Center for AI), Leilani Gilpin (UC Santa Cruz), Pascal Hitzler (Computer Science), Bruce Glymour (Philosophy), Cody J. Wassenberg (Manhattan Public Library)

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11066190

Wednesday, Oct. 18 schedule and registrations

9-9:30 a.m., Hale Library, first floor

Welcome Table Open

9:30-10:30 a.m., Hale Library, Friends Instruction Room (Room 359), and Zoom

Workshop 5: Experience AI Text Generation

Presented by K-State librarians Alice Anderson, Jason Coleman and Carol Sevin

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11050777

10:30-10:45 a.m.

Break

10:45-11:45 a.m., Hale Library, Friends Instruction Room (Room 359), and Zoom

Workshop 6: Technical Writing - Resumes, Cover Letters and More with ChatGPT

Presented by Theresa Merrick (English Department) and Carol Sevin (K-State Libraries)

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11050875

11:45 a.m.-12 p.m.

Break

12-1 p.m., Zoom

"Artificial Intelligence in Higher Ed (GPD)"

Hosted by K-State's Teaching and Learning Center; presented by Clarissa Steele

No registration required. Join the Zoom at https://ksu.zoom.us/j/99521236699.

12-1 p.m., Hale Library, Friends Instruction Room (Room 359)

Workshop 7: Introducción a Worldbuilding (English translation: Introduction to Worldbuilding)

Led by Alberto Chimal and Raquel Castro

This session is in Spanish.

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11050919

1-3 p.m.

Break for lunch

3-3:45 p.m., Hale Library, Room 181

Dexer and Durable, two AI companies, will present how AI is used in their companies and field questions from the audience

Presentation 1: Dexer: Data at the Speed of Voice
Presentation 2: Durable

Dexer: Bruce Rasa, co-founder and CEO, and T.J. Flax, project lead
Durable: Nima Keivan, CEO, and Fernando Nobre, CTO

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11066249

4-5 p.m., Hale Library, Hemisphere Room (Room 581)

Keynote: "IA: ¡El fin de la escritura! (¿O no?)" (English translation: AI: The End of Writing! (Or Is it?))

Keynote Speakers: Alberto Chimal and Raquel Castro

This session is in Spanish.

Registration: https://cal.lib.k-state.edu/event/11051033

5-5:30 p.m., Hale Library, Hemisphere Room (Room 581)

Meet and greet with authors Alberto Chimal and Raquel Castro

Payment

This symposium is free to attend.

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.

Partners

This symposium would not have been possible without the generosity and time of several organizations, including 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, Manhattan Public Library and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, we would like to give a special thanks to the departments and organizations that contributed to panels, workshops and special sessions.

Event organizers include Raelynne Hale, teaching 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; and Carol Sevin, academic services librarian at K-State Libraries.

Notice of Nondiscrimination