“It was cool to see the companies showcase their innovations,” Gregorian said. “There was a lot of emphasis on the AI race. That’s where IFC steps in by trying to bridge the gap; you can’t make regulations if you don’t know what’s going on.”
Gregorian also attended the Healthcare + AI event with IFC designed to educate congressional staff about the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The experience allowed her to connect conversations taking place in Washington with topics she had studied at Penn State.
“I had taken SODA 110N Social Data, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence, a class about the social impacts of AI,” Gregorian said. “So, it was really interesting hearing about how radiology is one of the oldest areas of medicine that has implemented AI for the past 30 years at this point.”
The experience also showed Gregorian that conversations about emerging technologies require more than technical expertise. As she interacted with professionals working in the field and observed congressional hearings, she saw how critical thinking, communication, collaboration and an understanding of social and policy implications can help inform decisions about AI.
“A liberal arts education teaches you to think critically and consider an issue from different perspectives,” Gregorian said. “Those skills are important when discussing something as broad and constantly changing as AI, especially as policymakers determine how it should be used and regulated.”
Source: www.psu.edu
