Raising AI: An Essential Guide to Its Use
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In a world in which artificial intelligence will change everything, we need a leader to illuminate the impact of “the automation of thought” on our way of life. How is the widespread use of AI impacting our world, our minds, and our future—not just as a technical innovation but as a mode of culture? Should we be afraid?
De Kai has been a trailblazer in the world of AI. He invented and built the world’s first global-scale online language translator that spawned Google Translate, Yahoo Translate, and Microsoft Bing Translator. He brings decades of his paradigm-shifting work at the nexus of artificial intelligence and society to help people make sense of their interactions with AI at both personal and collective levels—ethically and responsibly. While Hollywood narratives of AI destroying humanity might be overblown, the age of AI is reshaping the future of civilization.
What should each of us do as the responsible adults in the room? De Kai asks critical, overlooked questions requiring urgent attention.
Dr. De Kai is professor of computer science and engineering at HKUST and distinguished research scholar at the International Computer Science Institute. He was honored by the Association for Computational Linguistics as one of only 17 Founding Fellows. De Kai is an independent director of the AI ethics think tank The Future Society and was one of eight inaugural members of Google’s AI ethics council.
His book Raising AI provides an accessible framework to navigate the enormous impact of AI upon human culture, our values, and the flow of information. De Kai demonstrates that society can not only survive the AI revolution but also flourish in a new world where we all play our part in a more humane, compassionate, and understanding society—alongside our artificial children.
Our moderator, Camille Crittenden, Ph.D., is the executive director of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute and co-founder of the CITRIS Policy Lab and EDGE (Expanding Diversity and Gender Equity) in Tech at UC. She served as chair of the California Blockchain Working Group in 2019–20 and co-chaired the Student Experience subcommittee of the University of California’s Presidential Working Group on Artificial Intelligence. She continues to serve on the UC AI Council.
This program is in-person only. If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.
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Photos courtesy the speakers; main image DALLE commons, Scott Snibbe, Hugh Leeman, Gerald Harris.
Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.
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The Commonwealth Club of California
110 The Embarcadero
Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
Dr. De Kai
Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, HKUST; Distinguished Research Scholar, International Computer Science Institute
Camille Crittenden
Ph.D., Executive Director, CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, University of California
5 p.m. doors open & check-in
530–6:30 p.m program
6:30 p.m. book signing
(all times Pacific Time)
COST
Members receive 30–50 percent discounts (not a member? Join)
In-person:
$22
$55 with a book
Free for Leadership Circle members and students (without a book)
