Connectionists: Live e-Lecture by Prof. Ioannis Pitas: "Social Impact of AI Science and Engineering: Information Filtering and Disinformation", Thursday 8th December 2022, 17:00-18:00 CET (8:00-9:00 PST), (10:00-11:00 CST)

Thu Dec 1 10:19:25 EST 2022

Dear AI enthusiast/scientist/engineer/student,

Prof. Ioannis Pitas, a prominent AI researcher internationally (IEEE fellow,
IEEE Distinguished Lecturer, EURASIP fellow, chair of the International AI
Doctoral Academy), will deliver the e-lecture: 

"Social Impact of AI Science and Engineering: Information Filtering and
Disinformation", Thursday 8th December 2022, 17:00-18:00 CET (8:00-9:00
PST), (10:00-11:00 CST)

You can join for free without registration using the zoom link:
<https://authgr.zoom.us/j/94255772113> https://authgr.zoom.us/j/94255772113
Passcode: 867064

Attendance is free.

Abstract: 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 Generalized OnLine Affect and Cognition
(GOLAC) disorder. 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.

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. 

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. 

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?

This lecture addresses several important questions on the interface between
technology and society:

*	Why our world becomes ever more complex?
*	Can we cope with world complexity?
*	What is the relation between freedom of speech and information
filtering?
*	What is the psychological background of on-line cults and conspiracy
theories?
*	Why negative views propagate faster?
*	What is the relation of irrationalism, and anti-elitism, to social
media disinformation?
*	How can we valorize our private data?

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:

1.	"Artificial Intelligence Science and Society Part A: Introduction to
AI Science and Information Technology" 

 <https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156460?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156460?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

2.	"Artificial Intelligence Science and Society Part B: AI Science,
Mind and Humans"

 <https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156479?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156479?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

3.	"Artificial Intelligence Science and Society Part C: AI Science and
Society"

 <https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156487?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156487?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

4.	"Artificial Intelligence Science and Society Part D: AI Science and
the Environment"

 <https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156495?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860>
https://www.amazon.com/dp/9609156495?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

About the Lecturer: 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).

This lecture is part of the SIG  <http://icarus.csd.auth.gr> Icarus "AI
days" lectures offered by the AIIA Computer Vision and Machine Learning (
<https://aiia.csd.auth.gr/computer-vision-machine-learning/> AIIA.CVML) R&D
group of the  Artificial Intelligence and Information Analysis (
<https://aiia.csd.auth.gr> AIIA) lab at the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. These lectures are disseminated through
multiple channels and email lists (we apologize if you received it through
various channels). 

Post scriptum: To stay current on CVML matters, you may want to register in
the CVML email list, following instructions in:
<https://lists.auth.gr/sympa/info/cvml>
https://lists.auth.gr/sympa/info/cvml

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