Presidential Ponderings
Co- President Gerry McGann (P1) opened the
meeting and reflected on the third line of The Four Way Test – “Will it
build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?”
Gerry was at the airport to farewell our
outbound Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student Makylni Fitzgerald on her
journey to France. Our inbound RYE student will be coming in July, although we
don’t know from which country.
Gerry also reflected on Thursday’s National
Day of Mourning, to honour the victims of the Bondi massacre.
Today in history:
1556 The biggest earthquake in Chinese history
1975 Darwin was undergoing a massive clean up after Cyclone
Tracy
Guest Speaker : Dr Ane Burlinson - What is Artificial Intelligence(AI)?
Anne founded mPW3R (“empower”) because she kept
seeing the same pattern everywhere she looked: brilliant, capable people
breaking themselves against systems that were never designed for humans to
thrive in.
Anne’s journey took her from biology
and pre-med in the US (where she thought of becoming a doctor), to community
nutrition in Indonesia (studying how culture shapes behavior), to a doctorate
in Germany working with the Max Planck Institute on human evolutionary
behaviour. She pursued graduate studies in psychology at the University of
Western Australia —until life had other plans when she gave birth ten weeks
early during her final semester.
Anne
is a founding member of the Western Australian AI Hub and Human Evolution
Lab, and spoke to the club about demystifying Artificial Intelligence
(AI).
AI is described as a set of
instructions that allows computers to recognize patterns and predict what
might come next, without intrinsic understanding or consciousness.
When processing an input (e.g., “the lady
went to …”), AI assigns probabilities to possible outputs (cafe, hospital,
park, office) and selects the highest probability as the answer. While a crude
illustration, it captures the probabilistic prediction nature of AI.
AI
underpins widely used services:
- ChatGPT,
Copilot, Gemini
-
Navigation
tools like Google Maps and Siri
- Streaming platforms (Netflix, Prime, Stan)
-
e-commerce
(Amazon Prime, Temu, Shein)
-
Social
media (Facebook, TikTok, YouTube).
Even
users who believe they aren’t using AI are typically interacting with AI-driven
systems unless they use basic non-smart devices (e.g., landlines, big-button
phones) and have no computers.
Enablers of Modern AI:
Big Data
The internet’s continuous flow of
information provides vast datasets that power AI. Human behavior contributes
data through searches and interactions (e.g., “consulting Dr. Google”), which
AI systems learn from.
Powerful Processors
Both CPUs and GPUs enable near-real-time
interaction, such as smooth gameplay and rapid processing in AI applications.
Advanced Machine Learning Models
Compared to the 1950s’ rule-based
programming (“if A moves to B then do …”), contemporary machines learn
autonomously.
These
three ingredients—data, compute, models—must all be fulfilled for AI to
advance. Increased compute power also raises environmental impact concerns.
AI is a sophisticated prediction engine,
not independent thought. While its processes may mimic aspects of human
thinking, AI does not think like humans and lacks consciousness.
Applications of AI Across Domains:
Healthcare Diagnostics
AI assists disease diagnosis by rapidly
analyzing medical images (e.g., x-rays), producing possible outcomes (A, B, C)
for doctors to review and decide upon.
Automotive Safety and Self-Driving
Self-driving cars use AI for navigation
and danger scanning.
Gaming
AI makes in-game opponents smarter and
interactions more engaging.
Finance
AI models enhance task efficiency,
particularly in fraud detection. Algorithmic trading is reported by some as
feasible.
Customer Service
AI-powered phone agents and web chatbots
handle billing and support inquiries. Users often face frustration with
limited, preordained responses, especially for slightly complex questions.
Despite this, chatbots are widely deployed for quick assistance.
Reliance
on AI for Companionship:
Observations include trends in Japan where
individuals interact primarily with AI (Siri, chatbots), even attempting civil
marriage to AI bots via representations.
Today’s
larger, less intimate social structures create gaps our brains struggle to
bridge, making predictable AI interactions attractive.
Environmental
Impact:
The
more powerful our computers, the greater the environmental footprint. AI
advancement should be considered alongside sustainability.
Practical Use and Limitations:
AI cannot read minds; users must specify
exact requirements.
Employers may become more discerning
regarding AI-generated reports. Current outputs can miss nuances despite
covering discussed outcomes, necessitating human review.
Guardrails in education: In-class
handwritten essays can establish baseline capability. Tools exist to detect
whether a paper is AI-written, aiding employers and educators.
Workplace
pressure (deadlines “due yesterday”) drives reliance on AI to “get things
done,” sometimes at the expense of deeper thinking. Training is being organized
to address recognition of AI-written content and appropriate use.
Cyber Security and AI:
Cyber attackers increasingly use AI to
craft sophisticated phishing and spam (e.g., subtle character substitutions
like zero vs. O). To counter, organizations employ AI in cyber security to
intercept, analyze, and reduce workloads traditionally done by manual
programming.
A “cat-and-mouse” dynamic exists: since
attacks have evolved with AI, defense also leverages AI. Ongoing “cyber wars”
between countries are reportedly empowered by AI, happening continuously and
largely unseen by the public.
Anne concluded with answering a number of
questions from the floor.
Directors' Reports and Member Announcements
Angus F : Australia
Day parking roster: 7:00-9:30am Mike
C, Wayne D, Scott D, Brian J, John O: 9:30-12:00pm Raelene
G, Lorrie G, Ken P, David R, Alison T.
Ian K : Membership committee meeting after breakfast
Wayne M : Sundowner
Sat 31 Jan to celebrate the late Reg Willis’s 95th birthday. From 5PM at Reg Willis Seat on the
South Perth Foreshore (opposite 49 South Perth Esplanade). Join them if you
wish, bring a bottle of wine and a pizza….?
David R : Board
meeting Wed 28 Jan at 6PM, John McGrath Hall
Agenda items to Alison please.
Rick S : Request
for Perth Inner City Youth Service (PICYS) meals please. Pankind walk/BBQ Sun 8 Mar (we will
man BBQ).
Alison T : Global
Hand Charity (GHC) looking for someone to do Admin role for a couple of months while Alison is away.
Mike C : Bill
Boekeman is recovering well, still has some issues with left arm. Bill turned 89 last Tuesday. Gerry M asked to pass on best wishes from
members
Gerry M : Community
committee meeting after breakfast.
Conference is coming up, with some excellent
speakers and great MC.
Please book now, accommodation still
available in Northam and surrounds.
A Plethora of Fine(s) Winners and Losers!
- All - Spicy
food lovers – improves circulation, appetite, heart health, cholesterol, antioxidant,
improves aging.
-
Losers - Grapefruit, or the alternatives of broccoli and brussell sprouts.
-
W&L - Chia seed
eaters – beneficial, but you need to eat 2-4 tablespoons.
-
Winners - Tomato
fans, there is a new purple variety with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
qualities.
Winner of Heads and Tails
This week's winner - visitor Josh Tedjasaputra (after he
and Eunice realized they could double their chances by not picking the same
option…)
Attendance
43 attendees in all, including guest speaker Dr Anne Burlinson and visitors Rory Murray (Town Team movement), Josh Tedjasdaputra, Katrina Duke, Jess Murray, Erin Pawle, and Deborah Dyson.
