From AlphaGO to ChatGPT Public Talk | Data Science | University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo's Faculty of Math Data Science Graduate Programs sponsored a public talk about artificial intelligence conducted by Professor Pascal Poupart, an expert in this field. During the talk, Prof. Poupart discussed the significant technological advancements and paradigm shifts that have led to breakthroughs in various AI technologies, such as AlphaGO, ChatGPT, and AlphaFold.
Prof. Poupart took the audience on a journey through the paradigm shift that moved from the traditional method of programming computers for specific tasks to providing examples for machines to learn from. This new technique enabled machines to essentially program themselves, becoming more adaptive, and self-evolving.
The language models' evolution up to mid-2021 followed the notion that 'bigger is better', with the models performing better (in most cases) with more parameters and data. However, through advances in machine and deep learning, models are being optimized to work better without requiring enormous amounts of data.
One of the emerging advancements in AI is the ChatGPT, which is continuously evolving. For example, OpenAI's InstructGPT was their first popular model to use reinforcement learning and human feedback. ChatGPT now permits multi-turn conversations, and GPT-4 allows input of both text and images, combining computer vision to provide responses.
Prof. Poupart predicts that the future of language models and AI includes automated programming, a transition to natural conversation-based user interfaces, AI-driven optimization, and accelerated scientific discovery, such as speeding up the exploratory phase of designing new materials.
The same technology behind ChatGPT can also contribute to solving scientific problems in designing and exploring new materials that have desirable properties for industrial processes.
The talk was indeed inspiring, and the University of Waterloo is grateful to Professor Poupart for leading this enlightening discussion. You can watch a recording of the public talk via our YouTube account.
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that this work happens mostly on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our work towards reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, centralized within our Office of Indigenous Relations.
