Lex Fridman Podcast #135 – Charles Isbell: Computing, Interactive AI, and Race in America
Nov 2, 2020
Charles Isbell, Dean of the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, dives into the transformative relationship between AI and societal issues, particularly race in America. He highlights the need for empathy in digital interactions and discusses how interactive AI can help bridge ideological divides. Isbell shares personal experiences navigating academia as a Black individual and critiques traditional hiring practices that exclude diverse talent. The conversation also touches on the evolution of hip-hop and the importance of teaching computational thinking to foster innovation.
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Favorite Movies
- Charles Isbell's favorite comedy is "His Girl Friday", a screwball comedy with witty banter.
- He also loves "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "John Wick" for their immersive storytelling.
Predictable Humans
- Two days of data, like a weekend, can predict human behavior with high accuracy, even using simple statistical methods.
- People are predictable because they repeat actions, but dislike being told so.
Language Barriers in Silos
- Bridging divides in social media isn't about conflicting ideologies but differing language.
- People in silos develop unique terminology, making communication difficult even when discussing the same topic.