Less than a year after Australian National University (ANU) grappled with revelations of a massive data breach, the University bounced back after Silicon Valley-based research institute SRI International awarded one of its faculty members with a two-year fellowship.
ANU Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell was named the inaugural Engelbart Distinguished Fellow for her work in artificial intelligence (AI), culture, and technology. Professor Bell, who also serves as the director of ANU’s 3A Institute, leads the University’s efforts to develop responsible and safe uses of AI technology.
“Our world is becoming ever more intertwined and driven by the power of AI. It is permeating everything – not just computers, but cars, buildings, services and streetlights. So it is vital that we all develop the skills and knowledge for this world,” Bell said.
“But it's not just about building new technology. We have to think carefully about its impact. We shouldn't just ask can we do it – we need to ask should we do it and how can we do it in a way that benefits everyone.”
The fellowship was named after former SRI researcher and electrical engineer Doug Engelbart, one of the pioneers of modern computing. Engelbart was credited with several advancements in modern personal computing – including the invention of the computer mouse and hyperlinking.
In the 1960s, Engelbart founded SRI’s Augmentation Research Centre, an organisation which develops both software and hardware.
An illustrious career
As an Engelbart Distinguished Fellow, Bell will also be working with SRI researchers to develop ideas and programs in technology. Prior to joining ANU, Bell established a career in Silicon Valley as a Stanford researcher and Intel’s chief futurist as well as its first female senior fellow.
Willian Jeffrey, SRI International’s chief executive officer, highlighted Professor Bell’s “outstanding contributions to technology and our understanding of it.”
“At ANU she is building a new branch of engineering that will ensure we can effectively and ethical manage the impact of AI on humanity,” he said.
“Everyone here at SRI is excited to work with Professor Bell to support and help drive her vision for the future of engineering and AI.”
Aside from ANU, other universities have been working to buff up Australia’s cybersecurity and technology sectors, such as the Queensland University of Technology’s new scholarship to improve gender diversity and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s (RMIT) partnership with Amazon Web Services.
RMIT also announced a new short course to upskill DevOps engineers to fill in impending skills gaps in the market earlier this month.