Photo credit: news.mit.edu
MIT Scholars Recognized as AI2050 Fellows
Recently, five faculty members from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and two alumni were selected for the 2024 cohort of AI2050 Fellows. This prestigious recognition comes from Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, aimed at propelling scientific advancement in various fields.
The AI2050 program, co-chaired by Eric Schmidt and James Manyika, targets some of the most challenging issues in artificial intelligence. Each fellow will address the pivotal question posed by the initiative: “It’s 2050. AI has turned out to be hugely beneficial to society. What happened? What are the most important problems we solved and the opportunities and possibilities we realized to ensure this outcome?” This emphasis on forward-thinking provides a framework for addressing the societal impacts of AI.
Profiles of the AI2050 Fellows from MIT
The fellows associated with MIT this year include:
David Autor
David Autor, a professor in the Department of Economics and co-director of the MIT Shaping the Future of Work Initiative, has been named a senior fellow. His research investigates how technological advancements and globalization affect labor markets, addressing issues such as job polarization, skill requirements, and economic inequality. Autor’s AI2050 project aims to utilize real-time data on AI adoption to better understand the interplay between emerging technologies and human skills in shaping employment and income dynamics. His outstanding contributions to the field have garnered several prestigious awards, including a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, and he was recently recognized as a NOMIS Distinguished Scientist.
Sara Beery
Sara Beery, an assistant professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) and a principal investigator at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), has been selected as an early career fellow. Beery’s research focuses on innovative computer vision techniques to monitor environmental and biodiversity metrics globally. Her work also addresses significant challenges like data quality and accessibility in AI research. Beery holds a BS in electrical engineering and mathematics from Seattle University and a PhD from Caltech, where she was awarded the Amori Prize for her exemplary dissertation.
Gabriele Farina
Gabriele Farina is another early career fellow, serving as an assistant professor in EECS and principal investigator at the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS). His research intersects AI, computer science, and economics, concentrating on decision-making and optimization methods. Recently, he contributed to a Science study exploring the integration of language models with strategic reasoning. Farina’s achievements include a NeurIPS Best Paper Award and accolades for his doctoral dissertation.
Marzyeh Ghassemi
Marzyeh Ghassemi, who obtained her PhD in 2017, serves as an associate professor in EECS and the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science. She leads research initiatives in developing fair and robust machine learning models, particularly in health sectors. Her research impacts policy and practice, promoting equity in health through the use of ML models. Ghassemi’s work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2018 Seth J. Teller Award and a 2024 NSF CAREER Award, in addition to being listed among MIT Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35.
Yoon Kim
Yoon Kim is also recognized as an early career fellow. An assistant professor in EECS and principal investigator in CSAIL, Kim’s research blends natural language processing with machine learning, focusing on techniques for large-scale models and their efficiency. He has an extensive academic background, having earned degrees from prestigious institutions, including a PhD from Harvard University.
Additions to the AL2050 Fellowship
Alumni Roger Grosse PhD ’14, currently an associate professor at the University of Toronto, and David Rolnick ’12, PhD ’18, an assistant professor at Mila-Quebec AI Institute, were also awarded fellowships this year, marking their impact in the field of AI research.
Source
news.mit.edu