In many ways, the Stanford Workshop on AI & Knowledge (SWANK’14)
was the genesis of many of the ideas behind the AI for Good Foundation. James Hodson, Stefano Pacifico, and Michael Witbrock all participated in the closed door sessions among a select group of AI thought leaders discussing a shared vision for the future of Artificial Intelligence.
Some of the main conclusions drawn from this retreat (and the associated larger conference) were that Artificial Intelligence is still maturing as a discipline, that we need to strive for cleaner scientific experimentation, that we must put more resources towards fundamental research, and not overwhelm the system with corporate and military interests. Chief above all, and an area where AI4Good can certainly help, was continuing to organize such workshops to measure progress and maintain a shared vision into the future!
