MSU Research Foundation Hosts Second Annual Data Science Summit, Exploring Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Data-Driven Era
Summit brought together a diverse group of scientific experts, industry leaders, and emerging talent to explore the practical applications and potential of artificial intelligence, advancements in deep learning, and ethical issues in data science.
EAST LANSING, MI — The Michigan State University Research Foundation hosted its second annual Data Science Summit on October 3rd, 2023, bringing together over 150 attendees to the TechSmith headquarters in East Lansing. The event served as a catalyst for leading experts, innovators, and influencers from across Michigan to delve into the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the dynamic field of data science.
The event began with a keynote by Dr. Andrew Christlieb of Michigan State University, focusing on ethical considerations in developing data science models. Dr. Christlieb emphasized how bias within data can lead to harmful outcomes and highlighted collaborative efforts and new algorithms needed to identify and eliminate discrimination in data.
The morning sessions included a panel led by Dr. Mohammad M. Ghassemi of Computer Science and Engineering at Michigan State University, featuring Dr. Ilan Rubinfeld of Henry Ford Health, Derek Gebhard of Amazon, Shikha Mohindra of Roosevelt Innovations, and Karunesh Arora of Ford Motor Company. The discussion explored the intersection of artificial intelligence innovations with current application frameworks.
"There's a real need for technologies, tools, and talent that can effectively break down data silos," said Ghassemi. "Generative AI has shown significant potential for disruption across multiple industries, but ensuring safety and trustworthiness will be crucial to the adoption of AI tools. This summit was a remarkable gathering of industry leaders, scientific experts, and young talent that are interested in working together to address these issues."
Dr. Arun Ross of Michigan State University led the second morning panel, which included Naveena Spitz of AF Group, Carl M. Dukatz of Accenture, Dr. Sarah Gretter of the Apple Developer Academy, and Dr. Andrew Christlieb of Michigan State University. This group explored the applications of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) and the potential privacy and ethical implications associated with their use.
Following a lunch networking session, Sumandeep Singh of Ford Credit delivered a keynote on data protection in the digital age and the art of data science. This presentation was followed by five breakout sessions with experts leading small group discussions focusing on the practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science in specific industry sectors, including Agriculture, Healthcare, and Education.
"The goal of this summit is to strengthen the bridge between MSU and industry by creating opportunities for these communities to come together around important research and technical topics," said David Washburn, Executive Director of the MSU Research Foundation, which sponsored the event. “The outcomes of these types of events will lead to greater collaborations and opportunities to work together."
Five Key Takeaways from the Data Science Summit:
Advancements in Deep Learning: The future promises continued advancements in deep learning techniques, particularly neural networks, leading to more powerful models, improved training methods, and enhanced model efficiency.
AI in Healthcare: AI will play an increasingly significant role in healthcare, impacting disease diagnosis, drug discovery, personalized medicine, and telemedicine, ultimately improving patient care and accessibility to medical services.
Ethical and Regulatory Concerns: As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, concerns regarding ethics, bias, privacy, and security will grow. The need for comprehensive regulations and ethical guidelines are needed to ensure responsible AI use for the benefit of society.
Decision Systems: The development of decision systems, such as expert systems, will continue to advance, with far-reaching implications for transportation, logistics, and many other industries.
AI and the Education Market: AI will transform the education market by enabling personalized learning in enhanced classroom environments, reshaping the way students and lifelong learners pursue knowledge.
The next Data Science Summit will be held on October 3, 2024. If you have speaker or topic suggestions for the next Summit, contact Anum at anum@msufoundation.org. For information about other upcoming events hosted by the MSU Research Foundation, visit msufoundation.org/events.