USM hosts ‘Maine Artificial Intelligence Conference’
“We are trying to educate students on campus that AI is good to use, but how to use it the right way,” one researcher said.
PORTLAND, Maine — Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept confined to science fiction; it is everywhere and evolving rapidly.
From classrooms to businesses, it’s impacting everyday life and transforming the way we interact with technology.
The University of Southern Maine (USM) hosted the “Maine Artificial Intelligence Conference” in Portland on Friday, addressing the risks and rewards associated with AI.
“From a research point of view, AI can be very useful to accelerate your research. Rather than searching on a search engine, you can tap into a database that has already diagnosed years of internet.” Dr. Ali Abedi, associate vice president of research at the University of Maine said.
Abedi also noted the downsides of AI.
“The answers aren’t necessarily correct; sometimes AI gives you wrong answers,” he cautioned.
This duality underscores the importance of educating students on the appropriate use of AI.
“We are trying to educate students on campus that AI is good to use, but how to use it the right way,” Abedi said.
The conference featured speakers from various universities, Maine-based businesses, and AI policy experts like the Managing Director of IEEE USA Russell Harrison.
“AI, despite the myth around it, does not actually think. It is a computer program; if it is not programmed correctly, it could cause harm,” Harrison said.
He also stressed the importance of developing policies around AI use, given its rapid advancement.
“What we want to do is create rules so it is used correctly as it develops and help improve people’s lives…that we can’t even imagine at the moment,” he said.
USM believes events like this conference are crucial to fostering a better understanding of life with AI. By bringing together experts and stakeholders, the university aims to create a dialogue that will help navigate the complexities of AI and integrate it beneficially into society.
