This is the second part, of our discussion with Kritika Prakash, ex-Google, currently pursuing her Ph.D., at the University of Chicago.

Abbhinav (123 of AI) and co-host Debayan (Microsoft), go into detail with Kritika, on the need for regulation in technology, particularly privacy policies, the use of reinforcement learning strategies in healthcare program engagement, practical outcomes of her work at Google, the therapeutic role of art, an open-source tool for generative AI privacy, and coping with impostor syndrome.

KRITIKA REVEALS:

• AI for Social Good: Collaboration between tech companies like Google and NGOs to improve maternal and child healthcare programs using machine learning techniques.
• Challenges in objective evaluation of AI for social good: Related to measuring direct impact on well-being from engagement-based results.
• Challenges in ensuring fairness in AI due to system biases and limited resources. For example, a system for identifying individuals most in need for healthcare interventions.
• Her projects at Google:
• Boldness: Choosing boldness in pursuing goals without worrying about judgment leads to personal growth and comfort in one's skin.
• Work-life balance: Balancing academic pursuits with a sense of adventure and joy is essential for overall well-being.
• Women often experience underconfidence due to societal conditioning, adding an extra layer to impostor syndrome. Setting personal standards to avoid disrespectful interactions and focusing on doing good work helps combat impostor syndrome.
• Regulation in AI: The nascent nature of technology requires catching up in regulation, especially in the context of privacy and machine learning.
• GDPR's impact on privacy protection and the significance of rights such as the right to be forgotten.
• Self-reliance and Gender Bias: Identifying safe individuals becomes crucial, leading women to limit interactions based on respect and value. The need for extra skills in identifying safe people adds a burden, diverting focus from work enjoyment.
• Art as a Meditative Process: Engaging in creative activities as a therapeutic outlet
• Impact of generative AI on intellectual property rights of artists and creators
• Her reflection on experiencing impostor syndrome

BEST MOMENTS:

“Privacy will always be important no matter where the machine learning field is headed.”

“The nascent nature of technology requires catching up in regulation, especially concerning privacy implications related to machine learning.”

“Identifying individuals most likely to benefit from a program poses challenges due to limited resources.”

“Collaborative efforts between tech companies like Google have shown improved engagement levels among pregnant women through reinforcement-learning strategies.”

“I completely lose track of time... art has been a meditative process for me.”

“Success cannot be defined by any metric.”

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Abbhinav Venkat, is the founder of 123 of AI, an ed-tech company enabling working professionals to upskill in AI/ML. He is an entrepreneur, AI researcher, and podcaster. Before starting 123 of AI, he spent several years at multiple Silicon Valley startups as a Computer Vision Scientist. His academic career involved AI research at IIIT-H and Stanford University with several top-tier publications in BMVC, ICCV, and ACPR. For his research, he was awarded Qualcomm’s Innovation Fellowship, felicitated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), GOI, as well as invited for talks in 4 continents.

123 of AI’s website: https://www.123ofai.com/contact

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/abbhinavvenkat