In a profound interview at Visão newsmagazine, INESC-ID President, Inês Lynce, discusses the evolution of computational sciences, particularly in relation to Artificial Intelligence (AI), and why the perception of radical change might not be entirely accurate, despite visible advancements. Inês details that while the foundations of AI and machine learning have been around since 1956, the real game-changer has been the increase in computational power and the vast amounts of data now available, making these technologies much more effective.

The conversation also touches on the importance of demystifying AI and the need to explain how algorithms reach their conclusions, due to their inherent opacity. The concept of “Reinforcement Learning” is mentioned, likening it to Pavlov’s experiments, where rewards are used to train algorithms. The interview further explores the contrast between apocalyptic and awe-struck views of AI, emphasizing the significance of scientific communication for the general public.

On a topic that is particularly important to her, Inês expresses concern about increasing female representation, breaking the stereotype that certain fields are predominantly male, and highlighting the positive impact of having women in leadership roles.

Confessing her enthusiasm for the interaction with students, the professor at Técnico also reflects on the role of persistence and passion in scientific research and teaching. While research is portrayed as a solitary endeavour that heavily depends on peer acceptance, teaching is seen as offering immediate rewards. The ongoing shift in the education system, with a greater focus on autonomous learning by students, is a topic that is also of great relevance to Inês and that has been expressed clearly.

The interview is on the printed edition of Visão newsmagazine, August 15, and is also available here.