Artificial intelligence is about the people, not the machines | TechCrunch

Photo: John Mannes

"It takes money to make money and right now a lot of that money is going into the development of artificial intelligence" summarizes John Mannes, writes about machine learning and AI for TechCrunch. 

Photo: TechCrunch

From hedge funds to venture capital firms, everyone in finance has some idea about how data and quantitative analysis will reshape their industry. Firms like Signal Fire track engineers as they move from company to company to draw attention to growing startups. And funds like Numerai and Quantopian are putting faith in quants to determine optimal trading strategies.

Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s most robust and reliable money making machines, is going as far as to attempt to automate its internal management processes to ensure the longevity of its $150 billion under management. But unlike most other approaches of applying AI to moneymaking, Bridgewater’s tactic isn’t about anomaly detection, it’s about mechanization.

It was about the people before AI 
To understand Bridgewater, you have to understand Ray Dalio. To Dalio, broken frameworks and excess emotion are the enemy. Success comes from a curated set of rules he refers to as Principles in his book of the same title.

The field of behavioral economics is dedicated to studying the myriad of ways that psychology and neuroscience influence decision making. Traditional economics makes basic assumptions about human rationality but research in behavioral economics has shown us that people tend to do very strange things outside the paradigm of homo economicus.

There are hundreds of known cognitive biases — confirmation bias (we often only see info that validates our prior assumptions) , hyperbolic discounting (we’re really poor at valuing things with respect to time) and the bandwagon effect (we attach too much value to herd behavior).

Dalio says that rules help him to notice his biases and account for them. Whenever a conviction he has contrasts with what a computer model says it prompts reflection that can help to settle the dispute and lead to a better outcome.

The key is ensuring that you don’t overcompensate with your own emotions or do something just because a computer instructs you to. No number of algorithms can fully insulate a person from bias but they can aid in discipline and habit formation.

It will be about the people after AI 
Decades ago, Dalio says he would write down his criteria for making a trade and then work to see if those criteria could be converted into an algorithm.

“When I think hard I can convert qualitative problems to quantitative problems,” Dalio noted. “I ordered a Cobb salad. If I could slow down I’d write down my criteria for a Cobb salad — qualitative judgment for liking a Cobb salad.”
This expert systems approach is antithetical to today’s conceptions of deep learning whereby a machine learning model is trained on massive quantities of data to produce a conclusion based on inductive reasoning.
“I don’t like the term machine learning because what I’m doing is not learning,” Dalio emphasized.

The distinction might seem petty, but it’s far from it. Many of the machine learning models in use today operate as black boxes — data enters and conclusions are spit out. If you want to ask what drove the model to come to those conclusions, you’d be unable to find any paper trail.

“If a machine comes up with an algorithm and you don’t have a deep understanding of the appropriate cause and effect relationship, than things get very dangerous,” Dalio explained. “If the future is different from the past, you’ll probably crash.”
Read more...

Source: TechCrunch

5 Myths About Artificial Intelligence (AI) You Must Stop Believing | Forbes

Photo:  Bernard Marr

Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to transform many aspects of business and society, but with that also comes hype and fear. Here we look at five biggest myths about AI and machine learning which, while commonly quoted or believed, people should stop believing, argues Bernard Marr, best-selling author & keynote speaker on business, technology and big data. His new book is Data Strategy.

Photo: Forbes

Very few subjects in science and technology are causing as much excitement right now as artificial intelligence (AI). In a lot of cases this is good reason, as some of the world’s brightest minds have said that it’s potential to revolutionize all aspects of our lives is unprecedented.

On the other hand, as with anything new, there are certainly snake-oil salesmen looking to make a quick buck on the basis of promises which can’t (yet) be truly met. And there are others, often with vested interests, with plenty of motive for spreading fear and distrust.

So here is a run-through of some basic misconceptions, and frequently peddled mistruths, which often come up when the subject is discussed, as well as reasons why you shouldn’t necessarily buy into them.

AI is going to replace all jobs
It’s certainly true that the advent of AI and automation has the potential to seriously disrupt labor – and in many situations it is already doing just that. However, seeing this as a straightforward transfer of labor from humans to machines is a vast over-simplification.

Previous industrial revolutions have certainly led to transformation of the employment landscape, such as the mass shift from agricultural work to factories during the nineteenth century. The number of jobs (adjusted for the rapid growth in population) has generally stayed consistent though. And despite what doom-mongers have said there’s very little actual evidence to suggest that mass unemployment or widespread redundancy of human workforces is likely. In fact, it is just as possible that a more productive economy, brought about by the increased efficiency and reduction of waste that automation promises, will give us more options for spending our time on productive, income-generating pursuits... 

Artificial intelligence will quickly overtake and outpace human intelligence
This is a misconception brought about by picturing intelligence as a linear scale – for example, from one to 10 – imagining that perhaps animals score at the lower end, humans at the higher end, and with super-smart machines at the top of the scale.

In reality intelligence is measured in many different dimensions. In some of them (for example speed of calculations or capacity for recall) computers already far outpace us, while in others, such as creative ability, emotional intelligence (such as empathy) and strategic thinking, they are still nowhere near and aren’t likely to be any time soon.
Read more...

Source: Forbes

City College gets its groove back for adult learners | The Guardsman Online

"Guess what? City College actually appeared on the list of America’s Best Colleges for Adult Learners (Two Year Colleges). We ranked at nineteen on a list of one hundred colleges with similar demographics" summarizes Diane Carter, The Guardsman.

Photo: Elena Stuart.

Eleven years ago, a policy magazine, Washington Monthly presented a new way of ranking the best colleges and universities in the United States.

Instead of using the traditional method to measure best outcomes, the magazine focused its data collection on niche institutions with special kinds of learners.

Where traditional sources of collegiate ranking would collect educational data tending to elevate selectivity, wealth, and prestige as indicators of best academic outcomes, Washington Monthly sought to measure more practical metrics for a variety of educational institutions outside of the four year institutions and liberal arts colleges.

New metrics would measure the college’s’ ability to serve adult learners.

Paul Glastris in his magazine article, “America’s Best Colleges for Adult Learners,” noted that 40 percent of 20.2 million students attending american colleges are twenty-five years old or older and juggle time constraints in order to manage careers, family responsibilities, and upgrade skills.

Adult learners returning to college enhance economic mobility, increase skills needed in the general economy, and advance the number of people with post-secondary knowledge.

To rank the best colleges for adult learners, data from two federal government sources was reviewed. The first source of data was the Department of Education’s Integrated Post-Secondary Educational Data System survey and the other data source was the College Board’s Annual Survey of Colleges.

Categories used to measure America’s best colleges for adult learners included

1. Ease of transfer of units from other colleges.
2. Flexibility of programs including night courses.
3.  The percentage of students over twenty-five.
4. The cost of tuition and fees.
5. Services for Adult Students including part-time child care if available at the college.
6. Adult student median earnings rank.
7.  Loan repayment where a loan had been accepted for tuition.
8. Mean earnings of adult students ten years after college.   

Commenters on the college ranking website show little faith in the list, “ranking colleges and universities with any degree of accuracy is a fool’s errand, but there are a lot of “fools” on both sides of this “errand” willing to put money toward it”.
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Source: The Guardsman Online

Greening announces 27 new degree apprenticeships, but no new money | FE Week

"Justine Greening has announced 27 new degree apprenticeships, but the FE sector may have to wait a while to find out what they are" notes Freddie Whittaker, FE Week.
 

Photo: Justine Greening

In her speech to the Conservative Party conference, the education secretary heralded the success of the government’s degree apprenticeships programme.

She also announced the “next wave of degree apprenticeship projects”. These will help “meet the growing demand for these opportunities from the next generation”, Greening said.

In information published by the Department for Education in the wake of the speech, the projects are not named. And when asked when the names would be published, officials were unable to say.

The government has also confirmed there will be no additional funding to support the next wave of degree apprenticeships.

In her speech, Greening sang the praises of the degree apprenticeship programme, which has attracted 2,000 learners since it launched in 2015.
Read more...

Source: FE Week

Adult Learners: Why Adaptive Learning is Designed for Them | Backed by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), Acrobatiq

"With more adult learners looking to re skill, skill up or complete a degree, it’s more crucial than ever for higher education institutions find new ways to attract and retain adult learners" continues Acrobatiq.
 

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

However, teaching adult learners can sometimes present challenges for educators who may be used to teaching traditional, just-out-of high-school freshman.

In an article from eLearning Industry, 8 Important Characteristics of Adult Learners, author Christoforos Pappas outlines some critical traits that make adult learners different from younger, traditionally freshman-age students. Many of these characteristics also align with the benefits of adaptive learning which is increasingly being used as a tool to help adult learners achieve academically.

Self-Direction
According to Pappas, “self-assessment, a peer relationship with the instructor, multiple options and initial, yet subtle support” are all important to adult learners’ success. With adaptive learning, adult learners have the ability to test their knowledge in their own time, while also having the ability to reach out to instructors for help during class time.

Practical and Results Oriented
Adult learners prefer active learning and tend not to thrive as well in traditional, lecture-based courses  Adaptive learning, provides both the necessary theory and practical application or “learn by doing” activities that many adult learners prefer.
Read more...

Recommended Reading

Thumbs Up for Blended Learning by Rochelle Diogenes.
"Blended learning or hybrid learning has come a long way from its original concept of brick (classroom) and click (e-learning) in 1999."  

Source: Acrobatiq

6 Reasons to Study at a Russian Polytechnic University and How to Get There | Masterstudies News

"Russia has long been known for its dedication to higher education.  Now international students are flocking to the country's affordable, high-quality universities where the combination of low living costs and high cultural returns give students an advantage in the globalized market.  Here's why you should consider a Russian polytechnic university for your graduate studies" inform Joanna Hughes, worked in higher education administration for many years at a leading research institution before becoming a full-time freelance writer.
 

Photo: Masterstudies News

From its affordable, high-quality universities to its breathtaking architecture and rich culture,  there are many reasons to study in Russia. One university, in particular, offers a number of uniquely appealing benefits. Read on for a roundup of reasons to make Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, AKA “SPbPU,” your destination for international studies in Russia. 

1. You can do your studies in English.
As a cosmopolitan university committed to the belief that “knowledge is global,” SPbPU is gaining ground on the global scene. As part of its commitment to internationalization, SPbPU offers English language coursework across variety of levels, program types and fields, including Engineering, Natural Sciences, Economics and Management, IT, Design, and the Humanities. The school has also expanded its international and English-speaking faculty. 

Says SPbPU vice-rector for international relations Dmitry Arseniev of the opportunities at the master’s degree level, “There are about 20 competitive master’s degree programs in English, which are very popular among international students seeking the opportunity to gain knowledge from SPbPU lecturers and professors of overseas leading universities, get practice at the university’s labs, earn 120 ECTS and have an opportunity to study in a partner university abroad for a semester. Young people can study Civil Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Environmental Engineering, International Management, International Business and International Economics. And what is exceptionally important over nearly half of the programs are backed by a double degree diploma option.”   

2. You’ll have the opportunity to learn Russian.
Russia is a rising star on the global economic stage, and is expected to become a dominant supplier of raw materials by the year 2050. Due to the country’s up and coming status, Russian language skills can give you a serious inside edge when it comes to job marketability. Because of this, many international students prioritize Russian language coursework while at SPbPU. SPbPU is so welcoming to all of its international students, in fact, that they are even welcome to participate in an optional Russian language course – this particular course is even free for exchange students participating in English-taught studies. 

3.  You’ll have access to a solid infrastructure for international students.
SPbPU’s wide range of international education programs and cutting edge projects, top-notch teaching and research, and sterling reputation has earned the university a top 10 spot on the RUR Reputation Rankings in Russia. Because internationalization is an important part of its success, the university is committed to welcoming the contributions of international students and supporting their satisfaction. 

SPbPU’s consolidated campus consists of many modern facilities all within walking distance of each other, as well as green space and a premiere location between four metro stations. Says Maria Vrublevskaya, head of the international marketing and recruitment department, “The international campus of SPbPU is an accessible and understandable bilingual navigation system designed to create a comfortable environment for international students. Its structure composed of five key sectors: the information office, advertising center, international student admission office, expert center for credential evaluation and visa office.” 

Continues Maria, “In their free time, Polytechnic students take part in different extracurricular activities. They have opportunities to participate in exciting events and creative projects, to meet interesting people from different countries, and to gain new experiences and hobbies. Students can use the swimming pool, skiing center, weight lifting gym or climbing wall; play basketball, volleyball, football or tennis; and join different clubs, centers, theatres or laboratories.”
Read more...   

Additional resources  

Top technical international university in Russia (SPbPU)


Source: Masterstudies News and St. Petersburg Polytechnic University of Peter the Great Channel (YouTube)

Under the microscope: PhD Comics provides relatable content for grad students | Ubyssey Online - Science

Photo: Jacob White

"Life as a grad student is a uniquely chaotic and stressful experience. Then one day, if you’re like me, you stumble upon a comic strip that gets it" notes Jacob White, PhD student in astrophysics studying planet formation and the radio emission of stars in the department of physics and astronomy. 

Then one day, if you’re like me, you stumble upon a comic strip about how presenting at a conference never goes as planned.
Jorge Cham / PhD Comics / The Ubyssey

Life as a grad student is a uniquely chaotic and stressful experience. Your friends don’t get it, your parents don’t get it and sometimes it seems like your advisor doesn’t really get it either. It is a time full of ups and downs that make you question your life decisions.

Then one day, if you’re like me, you stumble upon a comic strip about how presenting at a conference never goes as planned. It reminds you that you’re not the only one going through this experience. It encourages you to also examine yourself and find the humour in what can seem like an never ending, pushing-a-boulder-up-a-hill exercise.

This comic I’m referring to is Piled Higher and Deeper (PhD) Comics. Created by Dr. Jorge Cham while a Robotics PhD student at Stanford, this comic series portrays what he calls “surviving as a grad student.” The title is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the value of college degrees.

What started as small comic strip in the Stanford Daily newspaper turned into a online series that is viewed by grad students (and non-grad students I’m sure) from all disciplines, all around the world.

On September 17, Cham gave a talk at UBC’s Hebb Theatre. Cham explained that the the exponential growth of the comic lead to a huge influx of fan mail.

He said many of the letter-writers tell him, “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when reading your comics.” I have to say that this pretty accurately sums up my feelings regarding the comics. Some are just... too real.

Sifting through the sea of fan mail, Cham found an email from UC Irvine particle physicist Dr. Daniel Whiteson. Whiteson, who said he was a fan of how Cham “captured the suffering of being a grad student,” had an idea about creating some sort of accessible explanation of the Higgs Boson.

He specifically wanted to that utilized Cham’s drawing style to communicate a scientific topic. They sat down one day, talked about the Higgs, and then Cham got to work. The result was an animated sketch that went viral on YouTube (and I highly encourage you to check out).
Read more... 

Source: Ubyssey Online  

Is doing a PhD a waste of time? | Irish Times - Education

Photo: Peter McGuire

"There are almost 9,000 PhD students in Irish third-level institutions" reports Peter McGuire, Freelance journalist - The Irish Times.

Studying for a PhD can involve seven-day weeks, long days, low pay and uncertain prospects.
Photo: iStock

What use is a PhD nowadays? After almost two decades in education, is it really worth committing another three, four or even more years to a doctorate? Will it help you in your career, or are PhDs a frivolous extravagance for the rich?

Once upon a time, the path for PhD students was clear: graduate and become an academic.

Now it’s harder than ever to secure a permanent job in academia - and, unlike in the past, today’s applicants won’t even be considered without a doctorate.

Seven-day weeks, long days, low pay and uncertain prospects are widespread among those toiling away for their doctorates.

For all that, almost 9,000 PhD students in Irish third-level institutions have chosen this path. Numbers rose sharply at the start of the economic crash and have broadly remained at this level since.

Graham Love, chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, says doctorates can still be hugely beneficial in career terms.

He graduated with a PhD in vascular cell biology from UCD in 1997 and then joined Anderson Consulting.

“Back then, the classical path was to go on to academia, although the tide was beginning to turn. 

People asked me: if you spent so long studying, why did you go into a consulting firm?

“It did turn a few heads - including my father’s. I don’t use the direct domain knowledge but I did learn about inquiry, setting out and testing an idea. You learn to face a problem, reduce it to its constituent parts and set out a plan.

“With a PhD, you spend a lot of time getting negative results and this builds resilience. It can be testing at times. And at the end, you stand in front of people and need to explain, in plain English, what you are trying to do.”

Academia is now a minority destination for PhD graduates. In 2015, an analysis carried out by Trinity College and LinkedIn found that, between 2000 and 2010, there had been a doubling of the number of PhD graduates working in industry.

The same study found that 58 per cent of PhD graduates took up their first role in academia but, by their fifth job, 63 per cent were working in industry.

However, the study found that it took 2.7 years for a PhD graduate to move from academia to research, highlighting how postdoctoral research is now effectively an essential part of the graduate’s career path.

For Ireland’s higher education institutions, meanwhile, PhDs don’t just help to advance scholarship: they are a vital - and growing - source of income.

The bulk of this income comes from taught postgraduates but PhDs are still a source of money - albeit a relatively small amount - for cash-strapped universities .

But Mike Jennings, general secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, says that PhD candidates are not getting a fair deal for their money.

He points out that doctoral graduates are increasingly not seen as a qualification, but instead merely part of a long apprenticeship, and says graduates have been raising concerns about this.

“A person with a PhD has a minimum of three years for a degree, one or two years for a postgraduate and then at least three years for a PhD. After this, they may face 12 years of further traineeship which is not, by definition, a career.”

Love says that it is a mistake to think of a PhD as a direct route to academia, and that only about 20-30 per cent of graduates are needed to work as academics. “If you want to be an academic and are clear and driven, go for it, but the people who are getting those jobs are top of their game and it is tough,” he says.

“Be aware you may have to travel or have to break out and try something else. The majority go to work in private companies or the public service.”

While much of the public policy focus has been on science, technology, engineering and maths PhDs, particularly in the life sciences and ICT, Love says humanities PhDs are valued for their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Read more... 

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Higher level maths entry requirements for students training to be primary teachers are to be lowered from next year.
Photo: iStock

Photo: Carl O'Brien

Maths fail in old higher level will be enough for primary teaching by Carl O'Brien, Education Editor for The Irish Times.

Source: Irish Times

Amid Professors’ ‘Doom-and-Gloom Talk,’ Humanities Ph.D. Applications Drop | The Chronicle of Higher Education

"While overall applications to doctoral programs were up nearly 1 percent from 2015 to 2016, applications to arts and humanities programs declined by 7.1 percent" according to Vimal Patel, writes about graduate education and other topics for The Chronicle. 

Photo: Pexels

Graduate programs in the humanities have faced withering criticism for churning out a surplus of doctorates despite a tight academic job market. 

Data released on Thursday by the Council of Graduate Schools suggest that the criticism could be starting to sink in. While overall applications to doctoral programs were up nearly 1 percent from 2015 to 2016, applications to arts and humanities programs declined by 7.1 percent.

The council warns against making too much of any one year’s data, because they are the result of a voluntary survey, not a census of all graduate programs. Even so, the five-year period before this year’s survey also showed an average annual drop of 3 percent in applications to arts and humanities doctoral programs.

Precisely what is causing the decline — the council calls it a "trend" — is unclear. But The Chronicle wondered if the messages undergraduates are receiving from their professors might be a factor. So we contacted a few faculty members who advise undergraduates to see if they have changed the messages they deliver about graduate school.

"It certainly wouldn’t be responsible to urge anyone but one’s absolute star students who are already committed to doing it," said Elizabeth Cullingford, chair of the English department at the University of Texas at Austin, of the grad-school option. "I tell my students, ‘If you think you’re going to get a job like mine, you’ve got another think coming.’"

Ms. Cullingford wasn’t always such a tenure-track killjoy. When she started at Texas, in 1982, she didn’t pay much attention to the academic job market. Her messaging to students changed in the 1990s, when she became the graduate-student adviser and saw the tenure-track hopes of many qualified students fail to materialize. The message grew bleaker after the 2008 economic collapse. "The crash made things much worse," she said, "but they were already pretty bad." 

Ms. Cullingford said she and her colleagues tell prospective graduate students to go into a doctoral program only if they are dead-set on doing so. "If you can’t imagine living without graduate school, then yes, apply," she said. "If you have any doubt at all, take some time off and think about it. Join Teach for America. Take a job, any job. Travel. Whatever. But don’t go to graduate school right away."

‘Go in With Their Eyes Open’  
Another factor contributing to the downward trend could be that hypercompetitive graduate programs are scaring away potential applicants, said Stephen Aron, chair of the history department at the University of California at Los Angeles. The department admits a fraction of the share of applicants it did 30 years ago. "People may be deciding they’re not viable," he said.

Like Ms. Cullingford, Mr. Aron explains the realities of the academic job market to prospective graduate students "so they can go in with their eyes open." He also explains the importance of the senior thesis as a testing ground — a way for students to gauge their ability and desire for a professorial life. "You can’t know whether this is something you want to do until you have done a significant research project," Mr. Aron said.

Susannah Ottaway, a history professor at Carleton College, said she, too, has a spiel for prospective graduate students — one a recent graduate remembers as "our doom-and-gloom talk."
Read more... 

Recommended Reading

The Professor Is In

Photo: Karen Kelsky

The Professor Is in: You Have a Ph.D. From Where? by Karen Kelsky, founder and president of The Professor Is In , which offers advice and consulting services on the academic job search and on all aspects of the academic and postacademic career.

Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education

Auckland uni PhD researcher calling for help from gamblers to study link to social anxiety | New Zealand Herald

"A PhD student is looking for gamblers to assess the link between using pokies and social anxiety" continues New Zealand Herald.

People who use electronic gambling machines may be able to help with a study that links gambling to social anxiety.
Photo / Andrew Warner, NZ Herald

Since 2012, Kiwi gamblers have increasingly lost money on gaming machines despite there being 1500 fewer machines nationwide in 2016.

Kiwi gamblers lost more than $843 million in pokies in 2015.

Photo: Retina Rimal

Retina Rimal is studying the association between social anxiety, using electronic gaming machines and decision-making. She said the machines provide a safe environment for socially anxious individuals. They are also the leading cause for gamblers to seek help in New Zealand.

"While many people enjoy gaming machines without any problems, some gamblers develop addictive behaviours involving EGMs.

"The thinking behind this study is that the isolation of playing games without having to engage in any social interactions in the hustle and bustle of casinos, clubs and societies may attract people with social anxiety."

Rimal, who is a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland School of Psychological Medicine, said her study could help scientists and policy-makers to develop more effective treatments.

An online survey will begin the study and later be followed by qualitative and neuroimaging studies in the future.

If you play electronic gaming machines, click here to help with the study.

Participants will enter a draw to win one of ten $50 petrol vouchers.

Source: New Zealand Herald