Women in AI: Anna Korhonen explores the intersection between linguistics and AI

HAS give AI-driven women academics And others their well-deserved — And late — time In THE projector, TechCrunch has has been editing A series of interviews concentrate on outstanding women who has contributed has THE AI revolution. Were editing these pieces all along THE year as THE AI boom keep on going, highlighting key work that often go unknown. Read more profiles here.

In THE projector Today: Anna Korhonen East A teacher of natural language treatment (NLP) has THE University of Cambridge. She is Also A senior research companion has Churchill College, A companion has THE Association For Computer science Linguistic, And A companion has THE European Laboratory For Learning And Clever Systems.

Korhonen previously served as A companion has THE Alan Turing Institute And She has A PhD In computer science And mastery degrees In both computer science And linguistic. She research NLP And how has develop, adapt And apply computer science techniques has meet THE needs of AI. She has A particular interest In responsible And “human-centered” NLP that — In her own words — "draw on THE understanding of human cognitive, social And creative information. »

Briefly, how did You get your to start In AI? What attracted You has THE field?

I was always fascinated by THE beauty And complexity of human intelligence, particularly In relationship has human language. However, My interest In STEM topics And practical apps directed Me has study engineering And computer science. I selected has specialize In AI because It is A field that allow Me has combine all these interests.

What work are You most proud of In THE AI field?

While THE science of building clever Machinery East fascinating, And A can easily get lost In THE world of language modeling, THE ultimate reason were building AI East It is practical potential. I am most proud of THE work Or My fundamental research on natural language treatment has directed In THE development of tools that can support social And global GOOD. For example, tools that can help We better to understand how diseases such as cancer Or dementia develop And can be treaty, Or apps that can support education.

A lot of My current research East led by THE assignment has develop AI that can improve human lives For THE better. AI has A huge positive potential For social And global GOOD. A big part of My job as A educator East has encourage THE following generation of AI scientists And leaders has to focus on realize that potential.

How TO DO You navigate THE challenges of THE predominantly male technology industry And, by extension, THE predominantly male AI industry?

I am lucky has be functioning In A area of AI Or We TO DO to have A considerable female population And established support networks. I have find these immensely useful In navigate career And staff challenges.

For Me, THE the biggest issue East how THE predominantly male industry sets THE agenda For AI. THE current arm race has develop always bigger AI models has any of them cost East A great example. This has A huge impact on THE priorities of both academia And industry, And wide range socioeconomic And environmental consequences. Do We need bigger models, And What are their global costs And benefits? I feel We I will have request these questions A plot earlier In THE game if We had better gender balance In THE field.

What advice would be You give has women while searching has enter THE AI field?

AI desperately needs more women has all levels, but especially has THE level of direction. THE current direction culture is not it necessarily attractive For women, but active participation can change that culture — And Ultimately THE culture of AI. Women are infamous not always great has proof each other. I would be Really as has see A attitude change In This respect: We need has actively network And help each other if We to want has reach better gender balance In This field.

What are a few of THE most pressing problems focused towards AI as he evolves?

AI has developed incredibly fast: He has evolved Since A academic field has A global phenomenon In less that A Single decade. During This time, most effort has disappeared towards scaling through massive data And calculation. Little effort has has been devoted has thought how This technology should be developed SO that he can best serve humanity. People to have A GOOD reason has worry about THE security And reliability of AI And It is impact on jobs, democracy, environment And other areas. We need has urgently put human needs And security has THE center of AI development.