Open Forum session on AI - Machine Learning

Dr. Shobana engaging the audience with ML basics, 5 March '20

As part of the Open Forum of Alliance University, Bangalore, we had an interesting talk by Dr. Shobana Padmanabhan of Alliance College of Engineering and Design Bangalore speaking to the faculty and students of Alliance School of Business, semester 1 and 4 in LT 206 in Alliance College of Engineering and Design on the 5th of March 2020 AN.

The session was on an interesting aspect of AI, Machine Learning,  the aspects relating to simple linear regression and non-linear regression models. The difference between the simple model and the ML models, between testing samples and training samples and how ML could be trained for millions of data points and be able to predict into the future. 

While normal mathematical models work on the input to give the output, Machine Learning models work on the training input and output data to give the details of the model. The more accurate model which is built on millions of different input and output data points can then be used to predict accurately the output for any input data. All these mathematical models existed beforehand, but lack of computing power was a major hindrance to play around with large volumes of input and output data. The present day availability of cheap processing power has provided a boost to Machine Learning.

View of LT 206, Technical Block, ACED.

This is the beginning of the series of interactions in the world of AI, more to follow in the coming weeks in the AU campus. The basic knowledge of AI and Machine Learning should eventually help us to delve deep into collaborative Intelligence which is going to have great impact on how humans and machines would collaborate in the future, be it driver-less vehicles or AI powered robots or devices. 

With AI already at our doorsteps, staring at us, checking our readiness to prepare for the AI and robotic revolution to follow, all these preparatory steps taken in different academic campuses and offices across the world are small sure steps to ensure a bright future for humanity. Alliance University is proud to be one of those organisations with a global outlook.

I am reminded of these famous quotations by famous personalities on the potential of AI:

 “AI is a core transformative way be which we are rethinking how we are doing everything - Sundar Pichai, CEO, Alphabet  

“Artificial intelligence will reach human levels by around 2029. Follow that out further to, say, 2045, we will have multiplied the intelligence, the human biological machine intelligence of our civilization a billion-fold.” —Ray Kurzweil

The better we are informed of AI and its impact, the better we can manage the transition to an AI driven world.

George..