STEM-Talk: Ken takes listeners questions for an Ask Me Anything episode

Is AI at its peak or is it just getting warmed up?

That’s just one of the questions Dr. Ken Ford, IHMC’s CEO and Founder weighs in on in this “Ask Me Anything” episode of STEM-Talk available now wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this episode, Ken, who is Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, shares his thoughts on AI given the recent developments in the field, particular in the realm of Generative AI, with programs like Chat GPT becoming a household name in the last year.

“(Large Language Models) as they have been developed can be thought of as memorization machines. When you think of them in this way, scale is everything from this perspective,” Ken says. “I would argue that intelligence is more than memory and recall.  Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) may now be the goal, thinking as a human would. But much of the advance that we have seen in recent years is due to scale increasing, not really due to algorithmic advances.”

Listeners will also learn in this episode which science-fiction author is Ken’s favorite — and which quote from this person he still inspires him.

Other queries in this episode include:

• The FDA’s recent approval of a neural implant device which is touted as a means of allowing people with degenerative neuromuscular disease, or spinal cord injuries, to interface with external technology via neural signals.
• A recently published study titled “APOE 4 Homozygosity Represents a Distinct Genetic Form of Alzheimer’s Disease,” which could leave the impression that those with two copies of the APOE 4 gene are certain to develop the disease with nothing to be done to prevent it.
• Why more gyms and physical therapy centers don’t make blood flow restriction devices available for their clientele, given that studies have shown that BFR improves strength and muscle mass in both young and older adults.
• How our physical fitness regimen should change as we age and the best balance of resistance, cardio, and high intensity interval training bearing in mind an increasing risk for injury.
• And much, much more.

IHMC is a not-for-profit research institute of the Florida University System where researchers pioneer science and technology aimed at leveraging and extending human capabilities. IHMC researchers and staff collaborate extensively with the government, industry and academia to help develop breakthrough technologies. IHMC research partners have included: DARPA, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Institutes of Health, IBM, Microsoft, Honda, Boeing, Lockheed, and many others.