On December 18th, Serica Initiative’s CEO Dinner series welcomed Shih-Fu Chang. Dr. Shih-Fu Chang is the Dean of Columbia University's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor of Engineering, with appointments in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from National Taiwan University in 1985 and his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1993. Dr. Chang is renowned for his research in multimedia information retrieval, computer vision, and artificial intelligence. His work has led to the development of innovative image search tools utilized by major media companies and law enforcement agencies to combat online human trafficking. He has also pioneered AI tools for detecting and attributing online disinformation. Dr. Chang is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the Association for Computing Machinery, IEEE, and an elected member of Academia Sinica. He received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Amsterdam and the Great Teacher Award from the Society of Columbia Graduates. Additionally, he serves as the inaugural director of the Columbia Center of AI Technology in collaboration with Amazon.
Dr. Chang explored the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and their transformative impact on various sectors. He discussed the integration of AI in multimedia retrieval systems, highlighting how machine learning and computer vision techniques enhance the accuracy and efficiency of image and video searches. Drawing from his recent discussions, Dr. Chang addressed the challenges and opportunities presented by large language models, including ChatGPT, and their implications for education and research. He also delved into the ethical considerations of AI deployment, emphasizing the importance of developing tools to detect and mitigate online disinformation. Finally, Dr. Chang shared insights into Columbia Engineering's strategic initiatives in AI, including collaborations with industry partners like Amazon to foster innovation and address real-world challenges.
See photos of the evening, and if you're interested in becoming a member and attending these exclusive events, please reach out to us at CEOdinners@sericainitiative.org.
