Machines that learn to see and move: The future of artificial intelligence

I attended the Institute for Mathematical Innovation (IMI) public lecture by Professor Andrew Blake, Research Director at The Alan Turing Institute on 18 October. Professor  Blake is a pioneer in the development of algorithms that make it possible for computers to behave as seeing machines. Before joining the Institute in 2015, Professor Blake held the position of Microsoft Distinguished Scientist and Laboratory Director at the Microsoft Research Lab in Cambridge, and he has been on the faculty at Oxford University. He is a part of a new startup FiveAI.

The session abstract:

Neural networks have taken the world of computing in general and artificial intelligence (AI) in particular by storm.

But in the future, AI will need to revisit these generative models which are used to make predictions. There are several reasons for this – system robustness, precision issues, transparency, and the high cost of labelling data.

This is particularly true for perceptual AI, needed for autonomous vehicles, where the need for simulators and the need to confront novel situations, will demand further development of generative, probabilistic models. 

He talked about the empirical detector and generative model. At the moment it is the era of deep learning and neural networks, that sit within the empirical detector area. A black box area of big data and optimal predictive power. The generative model is analysis by synthesis and comes with an ‘explanation’, like a model. It starts with a hypothesis, typically probabilistic. Professor Blake believes the generative model will come back as perceptual models need this. This is

• to simulate labelled data
• for data fusion - to increase reliability
• to make detailed interpretations 
• for online simulation - to explain hard to read situations

This was a very insightful lecture and very interesting to see the mention of analysis by synthesis.