Dr. Rachel Chung, an expert in artificial intelligence at the College of William and Mary, combines her psychology background with tech to enhance understanding of AI among younger audiences. Her journey includes a transition from studying human behavior to teaching data science and creating an activity book, “AI The Magic Box,” aimed at demystifying AI concepts for kids. Chung emphasizes the necessity of simplifying AI communication and reinforces that learning from errors is crucial in AI development.
Dr. Rachel Chung, a self-identified nerd at the College of William and Mary, is revolutionizing artificial intelligence through her research and innovative teaching methods. As a clinical associate professor in operations and information systems management, she melds her expertise in psychology and information science to impact the world of AI. Her journey began with a dual Ph.D. in psychology and a master’s in information science, leading her to explore the intersection of behavior and technology.
In the late 1990s, Dr. Chung unearthed her passion for AI at Carnegie Mellon University, primarily focusing on machine learning techniques for fraud analysis in renowned companies like J.P. Morgan. While pursuing her Ph.D. at Pittsburgh, she also researched human facial expressions, crucial for training neural networks to interpret emotions. “Grad students [would] code every single muscle and every single wrinkle on your face to come up with an equation that will tell us… if it’s a true smile versus a fake smile,” Chung explained, immersing herself deeply in the connection between technology and psychology.
When the pandemic began in 2020, Chung seized the moment, collaborating with her sister to pivot from hardware robotics education to teaching data science to younger audiences. Partnering with student Rani Banjarian, they launched a successful remote program, gaining recognition as their students won national awards in data science competitions. “We had a pretty successful and popular program,” Chung remarked proudly.
Transitioning from teaching to publishing, Chung and Banjarian transformed their initiative into an activity book titled “AI The Magic Box: An Activity Book on Artificial Intelligence.” Created during a winter brainstorming session, they recruited young illustrators, eventually leading to a book that presents AI concepts in a child-friendly manner. The book, due for release in Chinese in June 2024, has already earned a best teaching paper award at the 2024 Pre-ICIS SIGDSA symposium.
Chung credits her background in psychology for her effective teaching strategy, believing in simplifying complex concepts for better understanding, especially those involving AI. “Most people probably don’t know that deep learning is the same as neural networks,” she noted. “I think a lot of my psychology training helps me identify that this is what people are struggling with.”
While “AI The Magic Box” assists younger generations, Chung also sees potential for older audiences to adapt to evolving technology. She emphasizes the need for clearer communication about AI, arguing that current media descriptions often misconstrue its functionality. “I think the current state of AI communication… is too confusing,” she stated, urging a shift to more relatable descriptions.
Chung defines AI not as a flawless entity but as an evolving system, likening it to a “guessing math box” that learns from its mistakes. Her insights reflect the nature of AI, revealing its probabilistic foundations rather than a facade of omniscience. “If the model does not make any errors it stops learning,” she explained, highlighting the importance of errors in the learning process.
Throughout her tenure at the Mason School of Business, Chung has amassed various accolades, including the Faculty Excellence Award and another for Innovative Use of Technology. She is set to present her insights and discuss “AI The Magic Box” at the upcoming W&M TEDx event, promising to share her valuable data science research with a broader audience.
Dr. Rachel Chung’s work with artificial intelligence is bridging gaps in understanding and making the subject accessible to the younger generation. Her innovative teaching approaches, coupled with her insights on AI’s functionality, underscore the importance of clear communication in technology. As she continues to share her knowledge and engage audiences, Chung aims to demystify AI’s complexities and foster a better grasp of its impact in our lives. Through her initiatives, she illustrates that a combination of child-friendly learning and simplification of concepts can lead to effective education in this evolving field, demonstrating how AI can be a tool for not just the tech-savvy but for all.
Original Source: flathatnews.com
