I’m an engineer who has been involved in the fields of both behavioral science and AI since the 1960’s. I was a lecturer at Cambridge University in England where I had life tenure and subsequently was awarded an honorary professorship in the Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience in the 1990’s at Stirling University in Scotland.
The Centre was unique and, at that time, considered to be a pioneer in the then re-emerging field of AI. It operated under the joint auspices of the departments of psychology and mathematics at Stirling University.
When I became involved with Stirling University, there had been a resurgence of interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This had come about because of the recent discovery of more effective algorithms used to train the software-based neural networks that simulate the way in which the human brain works, and which underpin the operation of AI software platforms.
At that time, academic effort at the Centre at Stirling University had been almost entirely concentrated on the study of the similarities between cognitive and computational networks.
It was thought that an improved understanding of both the structure and functioning of the human brain might lead, not only to the improved treatment of people with brain disorders/injuries, but also to the development of more advanced neural networks for use in the development of AI software platforms. I was appointed to oversee a more commercially focused approach to future research and development.
I have been building AI platforms for clients since the early 1970s and have received a number of awards for my work.
I decided to start the AI New Wave Initiative because I am seriously concerned about the safety of the new wave of Chatbots like ChatGPT that are powered by Large Language Models.