Mudd Talks: N+1 Lessons I've Learned Through a Decade in Artificial Learning

Professor George Montañez will share several surprising lessons learned about artificial learning methods since the beginning as a graduate student in the early 2010s. Opening the black box of popular AI and machine learning methods allows us to understand what powers them and makes them work uniquely well, from a first-principles perspective. Montañez has grown to appreciate the limitations, biases and dangers inherent in automated learning systems. Montañez has seen both the need for biases in learning systems and the folly of uncritically incorporating biases without careful examination. Progress in the field of artificial learning has been accelerated and uneven, with stalls and bursts, but continues to move forward. The learning methods we develop reflect us, going where we guide them, with whatever quality of data we feed them. The history of hype cycles related to learning approaches cautions us against naively believing in either an imminent technological utopia or apocalypse. Through all this, we remind ourselves of the pressing need to embed our best values in our algorithms.

George Montañez is an assistant professor of computer science at Harvey Mudd College. Montañez received a B.S. in computer science from UC Riverside, an M.S. in computer science from Baylor University and an M.S. and PhD in machine learning from Carnegie Mellon University. Montañez has worked in industry as a data scientist for Microsoft and as a software engineer and web developer for various small companies. Since coming to HMC five years ago, Montañez founded the AMISTAD research lab and mentored more than 75 research students, several of whom have gone on to top graduate programs around the country. Montañez remains passionate about mentoring students and seeking to remind those from all backgrounds that they belong—in this world, in academia and in computation.

Recorded March 21, 2023.

Mudd Talks is a virtual discussion series offered by the Harvey Mudd College Office of Alumni and Parent Relations. Opinions expressed in the Mudd Talks discussion series are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the College administration, faculty, trustees or students.