Event Description 

Language-based artificial intelligence technologies (i.e., large language model tools, like ChatGPT, Google Translate, DeepL, etc.) are at the forefront of many discussions currently taking place in both the academic world and beyond. That said, the key components at the heart of these technologies–language and machine learning–often operate in silos, without opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, sharing, or critique. 

In this panel discussion, we gather together in conversation researchers, instructors, and practitioners from the UC Berkeley community who work in different parts of the language/culture and machine learning landscape. The goal of this panel is to showcase the work being done in machine learning and language/culture study in the UC Berkeley community and to explore questions of language, language use, and technology from three perspectives: research, industry, theory. 

This conference gathers together researchers, instructors, and practitioners from the UC Berkeley community who work in different parts of the language/culture and machine learning landscape. The goal is to showcase the work being done in machine learning and language/culture study in the UC Berkeley community and to explore questions of language, language use, and technology from three perspectives: research, industry, theory.

Some framing questions for this conference include:  

• What questions about language/culture/humanistic inquiry does AI encourage us to ask? 

• What kinds of research and theoretical work is being done on AI and language/culture study on campus? 

• How is current work being done in AI informed by a language/culture perspective? 

• How can AI be applied/leveraged in language-related research, industry and career settings? What possibilities are there?

• What are future areas of exploration and interdisciplinary dialogues?

• What questions about language/culture/humanistic inquiry does AI encourage us to ask? 

• What kinds of research and theoretical work is being done on AI and language/culture study on campus? 

• How do theoretical approaches to language or AI get taken up in research and instructional settings?

• What methods are being used?

• How is current work being done in AI informed by a language/culture perspective? 

• Can AI be leveraged to further the study/exploration of language/culture/humanities on campus? If so, how? 

• What questions related to language/AI are being asked in industry settings? 

• How can AI be applied/leveraged in language-related research and career settings? What career possibilities are there?

• What are future areas of exploration and interdisciplinary dialogues?