Speaker: Anita Raja, Ph.D., Professor of Computer Science, Hunter College, CUNY.

Anita Raja is a Professor of Computer Science at Hunter College, City University of New York, specializing in artificial intelligence (AI). Her research centers on multi-agent systems, where multiple autonomous agents interact and make decisions in complex, uncertain environments. Raja is widely recognized for her contributions to developing intelligent systems that can effectively handle uncertainty and collaborate to solve practical problems. Her work has received significant funding from federal agencies and has been recognized with best paper awards and prizes. In addition to her research, Raja is a strong advocate for diversity in STEM and is committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Raja received a B.S. Honors in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics summa cum laude from Temple University, Philadelphia in 1996, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1998 and 2003 respectively.

In this talk, Anita Raja will present what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is and what it is not. She will share a brief history of AI research and  explore its transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across sectors, focusing on its applications in medicine and infrastructure.  She will then address the broader societal implications of AI, highlighting the importance of responsible AI development, transparency, and bias mitigation. Through real-world examples, Anita Raja will demystify AI's capabilities and limitations while emphasizing its potential to benefit humanity when designed responsibly.