Abstractions for Real People

Speaker :- Brendan Fong
Moderator :- Priyaa Varshinee Srinivasan

Title: Abstractions for Real People

Abstract: Computing is built on abstractions. Abstractions forget details, so that we can focus on what is important. What happens, however, when we forget something of value? I argue that certain risks and fears around AI today result from action informed by abstractions that diverge from what matters in their context of use. Moreover, I suggest that building better societal practices of abstraction is a task to which mathematicians – especially category theorists – are well placed to contribute. To begin a conversation, I envision a practice of abstraction that prizes accessibility, responsiveness, and pluralism. I'll illustrate this practice via ongoing work at Topos, especially our collaborative modelling platform CatColab.

The talk will be moderated by Priyaa Varshinee Srinivasan. Priyaa is a postdoctoral fellow at the Tallinn University of Technology, and a former colleague of Brendan (the speaker). She specializes in applied category theory. Her vision is for everyone to experience the joy of mathematics in their own way.

Видео Abstractions for Real People канала Relatorium