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Ever wondered why AI can be simultaneously brilliant and bewilderingly clueless? Reed Coke, Director of Engineering at KUNGFU.AI, offers a beautifully simple explanation: AI is like singing along to songs in a language you don't know. You recognize patterns and can predict what comes next without truly understanding the meaning.
Reed brings his unique background as a linguist-turned-AI engineer to explain natural language processing in terms kids (and adults) can grasp. Growing up bilingual in Dutch and English sparked his passion for languages, eventually leading him to discover programming as a powerful tool for studying human communication. This intersection became his specialty - building AI systems that interact with language.
The conversation explores fascinating territory, from Reed's work on an AI system that could detect cancer risks five years before diagnosis to the amusing challenges of teaching computers to understand context (like distinguishing complaints about counterfeit products from reviews of Halloween "fake doctor" costumes). Reed breaks down complex concepts like supervised learning without sacrificing accuracy, making them accessible for young listeners.
Reed offers practical advice on getting started with AI through resources like Code Academy, Code Combat, kidspython.com, and Black Girls Hack, emphasizing that community-based learning through classes and camps often provides the best support. Most importantly, he encourages approaching AI development with empathy - considering who created the training data, what experiences it represents, and how systems will affect real people.
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