Developments in artificial Intelligence and machine learning present new opportunities and methods to tackle challenges in a variety of fields, including education. In many of these instances, a key element to the successful use of AI depends upon its integration with the human structures, interactions, and expectations that already exist. In a selection of five talks, this presentation explores ways that humans and AI systems interact with each other, from educational and sensory assessments to building relationships with AI Assistants. Elizabeth Wilsey, Director of Community Relations at mediaX at Stanford University, will moderate this session.

These talks are curated by mediaX at Stanford University, of which Squirrel.AI is a member. They cannot be shared or replicated without the express written permission of mediaX at Stanford University.

mediaX is the affiliate program of the H-STAR Institute extending from the Stanford Graduate School of Education to over two dozen interdisciplinary labs at Stanford. mediaX brings innovative companies and researchers together to explore thoughtful uses of information technology and human sciences across the industries of tomorrow.

Elizabeth Wilsey is the Director of Community Relations with mediaX at Stanford University. In this role she supports member management, relationship development, and the internal and external community of mediaX. She specializes in relationship cultivation and logistic coordination, with experience in both academia and theatrical production. Prior to arriving at Stanford, she worked as an Academic Conference planner for faculty across many disciplines at the University of Notre Dame, including sites in London, Rome, Dublin, and Jerusalem. Past productions have won numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, Obie Award, and Tony Award nominations. She holds a BA in American Studies and French Literature from the University of Notre Dame.

Martha Russell is Executive Director of mediaX at Stanford University and Senior Research Scholar with the Human Sciences Technology Advanced Research Institute at Stanford. Dr. Russell leads business alliances and interdisciplinary research for mediaX at Stanford University. With people and technology as the intersecting vectors. Russell’s background spans a range of business development, innovation and technology-transfer initiatives in information sciences, agriculture, communications, and microelectronics – for businesses, universities and regional development organizations. With a focus on the power of shared vision, Russell has developed planning/evaluation systems and consulted regionally and internationally on technology innovation for regional development.

Chris Piech is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science Education at Stanford University. His research is in machine learning looking to understand human learning. He also believes that in 2020 there is a unique opportunity to build better learning experiences that serve more students. Chris is teaching CS398 which is a research-level course that explores ways to leverage; modern AI, online platforms and large datasets to address challenges in education. Chris loves teaching and I’m into exploring our world (through both science and travelling). My research is in machine learning to understand human learning. His PhD advisors are Leo Guibas and Mehran Sahami.

Nick Haber is an Assistant Professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and by courtesy, Computer Science. After receiving his PhD in mathematics on Partial Differential Equation theory, he worked on Sension, a company that applied computer vision to online education. He then co-founded the Autism Glass Project at Stanford, a research effort that employs wearable technology and computer vision in a tool for children with autism. Aside from such work on learning and therapeutic tools, he and his research group develop artificial intelligence systems meant to mimic and model the ways people learn early in life, exploring their environments through play, social interaction, and curiosity.

Ajay Chander leads R&D teams in imagining and building new human-centric technologies and products. His work has spanned digital healthcare and wellness, software security, and behavior design. Currently, Dr. Chander is VP of Research at Fujitsu and leads global R&D for AI in Prosperity, which includes Mental Wellbeing, Food, Education, Personal Finance, and Management (of ourselves and of others). At Fujitsu, Dr. Chander also provides technical and thought/strategy leadership for all aspects of the interplay between technology and the human experience, with a focus on human-centric systems and solutions.

Elizabeth Arredondo is a writer focused on creating compelling characters for television and interactive mediums. She is currently designing the personality, backstory, and the conversations for a robotic wellness coach named Mabu. Mabu is the latest effort in social robotics from Cory Kidd, formerly of MIT’s Media Lab. After earning her MFA in Writing for Screen and TV from USC’s School for Cinematic Arts in 2005, Elizabeth received a feature film writing fellowship and participated in NBC’s “Writers on the Verge” program. Elizabeth worked as a staff writer on the primetime CBS drama COLD CASE. She has also worked with a network to develop an original pilot.