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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EL link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><div id=DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US>Dear AI enthusiast/scientist/engineer/student,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US style='color:#3C4858;background:white'> </span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Prof. Ioannis Pitas,</span></strong><span class=apple-converted-space><span lang=EN-US> a </span></span><span lang=EN-US>prominent AI researcher internationally (</span><span lang=EN-GB>IEEE fellow, IEEE Distinguished Lecturer, EURASIP fellow, chair of the International AI Doctoral Academy)</span><span lang=EN-US>, will deliver the e-lecture:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span><span class=apple-converted-space><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US>"<b>Social Impact of AI Science and Engineering: Information Filtering and Disinformation</b>", Thursday 8<sup>th</sup> December 2022, 17:00-18:00 CET (8:00-9:00 PST), (10:00-11:00 CST)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US>You can join for free without registration using the zoom link:<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span><a href="https://authgr.zoom.us/j/94255772113"><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue'>https://authgr.zoom.us/j/94255772113</span></strong></a><span lang=EN-US> Passcode: 867064<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><b><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><b><span lang=EN-US>Attendance is free.</span></b><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><b><span lang=EN-US>Abstract</span></b><span lang=EN-US>: Our world is increasingly complex, in terms of both its material components (e.g., smart cities, infrastructure) and its social processes (e.g., social media outreach). Both individual humans and entire societies find it difficult to cope with world complexity. For example, humans that are overexposed to a 24/7 information deluge through their mobile phones tend to develop the so-called <i>Generalized OnLine Affect and Cognition</i> (<i>GOLAC</i>) <i>disorder.</i> Its impact has not been studied sufficiently well. It can be devastating to minors and vulnerable people. It forms a good substate for conspiracy theories and disinformation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US>Artificial Intelligence (AI) in general, and Machine Learning in particular, is our reply to world complexity. It allows us to handle a data flood, analyze data to produce information and use it not only to survive, but also to excel. AI Science and Engineering enable social engineering, allowing us to devise social processes that change our society. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US>Information filtering is a prime example of social engineering. It encompasses many social processes: a) web search, b) recommendation systems for online product and service marketing, b) online match-making and c) news editing and broadcasting. Though they can have a very positive societal impact, they can also have adverse effects, if poorly implemented. For example, they can result in massive private data theft and use to fuel corporate profits. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US>Lack of information filtering can look like a heaven for freedom of speech. Yet the opposite frequently happens in social media environments. Irrationalism, cult culture, anti-intellectualism and anti-elitism pre-existed social media. However, social media have unique characteristics (small world phenomenon, rich-get-richer phenomenon, GOLAC disorder) that boost such tendencies and fuel disinformation. Sentimental and conspiratorial speech propagates like wildfire. Why? Social media company policies favor such voices as they ensure user engagement (and their profits through marketing). The end result is that minority voices highjack the web and disinformation flourishes. AI does provide tools, e.g., for deep fake news creation, that can be misused to fuel disinformation and threaten democratic societies. What is the way forward to defend democracy?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US>This lecture addresses several important questions on the interface between technology and society:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo3'><span lang=EN-US>Why our world becomes ever more complex?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo3'><span lang=EN-US>Can we cope with world complexity?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo3'><span lang=EN-US>What is the relation between freedom of speech and information filtering?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo3'><span lang=EN-US>What is the psychological background of on-line cults and conspiracy theories?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo3'><span lang=EN-US>Why negative views propagate faster?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo3'><span lang=EN-US>What is the relation of irrationalism, and anti-elitism, to social media disinformation?<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo3'><span lang=EN-US>How can we valorize our private data?<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-GB>All the above issues are addressed in the new 1050+ page book “Artificial Intelligence Science and Society” consisting of four volumes (parts) debating all technical and social grand challenges of AI Science and Engineering in an understandable and scientifically accurate manner:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo6'><a name="_Hlk118461959"><span lang=EN-GB>“Artificial Intelligence Science and Society Part A: Introduction to AI Science and Information Technology“ <o:p></o:p></span></a></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-align:justify'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156460?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB>https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156460?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo6'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB>“Artificial Intelligence Science and Society Part B: AI Science, Mind and Humans“<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-align:justify'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156479?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB>https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156479?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=3 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo6'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB>“Artificial Intelligence Science and Society Part C: AI Science and Society“<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-align:justify'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156487?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB>https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156487?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=4 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo6'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB>“Artificial Intelligence Science and Society Part D: AI Science and the Environment“<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='text-align:justify'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156495?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'><span lang=EN-GB>https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156495?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118461959'></span><span lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><b><span lang=EN-GB>About the Lecturer:</span></b><span lang=EN-GB> This lecture and book are a result of a two-year effort by Prof. Ioannis. Pitas (IEEE fellow, IEEE Distinguished Lecturer, EURASIP fellow) and was influenced by his being principal investigator of 75+ R&D projects on Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Digital Media and chairing the International AI Doctoral Academy (AIDA). Prof. I. Pitas is Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Information Analysis (AIIA) lab at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He was chair and initiator of the IEEE Autonomous Systems Initiative (ASI). He has (co-)authored 15 books, 45 book chapters and over 950 papers in the above topics. He has 34500+ citations to his work and h-index 87+. He is ranked 319 worldwide and first in Greece in the field of Computer Science (2022).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span lang=EN-US>This lecture is part of the SIG </span><a name="_Hlk118462304"></a><a href="http://icarus.csd.auth.gr"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118462304'><span lang=EN-US>Icarus</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118462304'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118462304'></span><span lang=EN-US> “AI days” lectures offered by the AIIA Computer Vision and Machine Learning (</span><a name="_Hlk118462403"></a><a href="https://aiia.csd.auth.gr/computer-vision-machine-learning/"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118462403'><span lang=EN-US>AIIA.CVML</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118462403'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk118462403'></span><span lang=EN-US>) R&D group of the </span><span lang=EN-GB>Artificial Intelligence and Information Analysis (</span><a href="https://aiia.csd.auth.gr"><span lang=EN-GB>AIIA</span></a><span lang=EN-GB>) lab at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece.</span><span lang=EN-US> These lectures are disseminated through multiple channels and email lists (we apologize if you received it through various channels).<span class=apple-converted-space> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='text-align:justify'><span class=apple-converted-space><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoPlainText><b><span lang=EN-US>Post scriptum:</span></b><span lang=EN-US> To stay current on CVML matters, you may want to register in the CVML email list, following instructions in: </span><a href="https://lists.auth.gr/sympa/info/cvml"><span lang=EN-US>https://lists.auth.gr/sympa/info/cvml</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>