Richard Zemel Bridges the Gap Between AI and Natural Intelligence

Richard Zemel, director of Columbia’s NSF-funded AI institute, is leading a nationwide team of top researchers to bridge artificial and natural intelligence. Their goal? To deepen our understanding of the brain and develop AI systems that can adapt to unpredictable situations—just as natural intelligence does. In this Q&A, Zemel, who is also the Trianthe Dakolias Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, explores how ARNI (AI Institute for ARtificial and Natural Intelligence) is tackling AI’s biggest challenges, from trustworthiness to lifelong learning. His insights will set the stage for an exciting discussion on the new frontiers of AI.