Luminita Stevens (Univ. of Maryland)

Dr. Thomas Serre, Thomas J. Watson, Sr. Professor of Science at Brown University's Carney Center for Computational Brain Science, to speak as part of the Quest for Intelligence and CBMM seminar series.Title: Aligning deep networks with human vision will require novel neural architectures, data diets and training algorithmsAbstract: Recent advances in artificial intelligence have been mainly driven by the rapid scaling of deep neural networks (DNNs), which now contain unprecedented numbers of learnable parameters and are trained on massive datasets, covering large portions of the internet. This scaling has enabled DNNs to develop visual competencies that approach human levels. However, even the most sophisticated DNNs still exhibit strange, inscrutable failures that diverge markedly from human-like behavior—a misalignment that seems to worsen as models grow in scale.In this talk, I will discuss recent work from our group addressing this misalignment via the development of DNNs that mimic human perception by incorporating computational, algorithmic, and representational principles fundamental to natural intelligence. First, I will review our ongoing efforts in characterizing human visual strategies in image categorization tasks and contrasting these strategies with modern deep nets. I will present initial results suggesting we must explore novel data regimens and training algorithms for deep nets to learn more human-like visual representations. Second, I will show results suggesting that neural architectures inspired by cortex-like recurrent neural circuits offer a compelling alternative to the prevailing transformers, particularly for tasks requiring visual reasoning beyond simple categorization.

Writing a journal article can be a daunting task, characterized by frustration instead of progress. This four-part workshop series will breakdown the task of writing an empirical journal article into manageable pieces so that you can move your project forward. Led by WCC lecturer Adrienne Tierney, Ed.D, we will discuss how to approach each section and how to use writing as a problem-solving tool in creating a meaningful paper that conveys your research clearly and effectively. We encourage you to attend all sessions of the series, but you are also welcome to sign up for separate sessions.Part 1. Getting Started: Creating a Plan and Drafting an IntroductionTuesday, February 11th, 4:00-5:30pmPart 2. Getting to the Data: Methods and ResultsTuesday, February 18th, 4:00-5:30pmPart 3. Interpreting Your Findings: DiscussionTuesday, February 25th, 4:00-5:30pmPart 4. From Paper to Publication: Revision and SubmissionTuesday, March 4th, 4:00-5:30pm

For researchers interested in commercializing their new technology:● Learn what I-Corps is all about and what to expect in the program ● Explore the benefits of participating in our I-Corps short course ● What will the next steps be toward a potential $2MM in non-dilutive funding supportThere will be an opportunity for Q&A at the end of the session.

Have you secured a summer experience, but find it underpaid? Curious about how to fund it? Join this session to explore resources available at MIT, including the Career Exploration Fellowship, designed to support your summer plans. You'll also receive tips on how to craft a strong application for funding opportunities.This CAPD event is open to all MIT undergraduates.

Join us for a compelling discussion on the evolving dynamics of US-China science cooperation, highlighting the role of scientists at the intersection of innovation and geopolitics. As the new Trump administration shapes its China policies, how is the United States navigating scientific collaboration with China? What are the implications for Chinese American and China-focused scientists? Two Chinese American MIT faculty members and the Director of the MIT Washington Office will share their insights on the opportunities and challenges of advancing scientific progress in the context of an increasingly complex and contested US-China relationship.Light snacks will be provided. Please RSVP here.Speakers:Yasheng Huang, Epoch Foundation Professor of Global Economics and Management, MIT Sloan; Faculty Director MIT-China ProgramGang Chen, Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, MechE; Director, Pappalardo Micro and Nano Engineering LaboratoriesDavid Goldston, Director, MIT Washington OfficeModerator:Mihaela Papa, Director of Research and Principal Research Scientist, MIT Center for International StudiesContact Kate Danahy at kdanahy@mit.edu with any questions.Join our mailing list here to learn about upcoming CIS Global Research & Policy Seminars.