Alumni Lecture Series: Dr. Kelly-Marie Carter
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) – It’s All About Nuance
Kelly-Marie Carter, PhD, COL(R), USAR
September 12, 2022
ABSTRACT
Artificial Intelligence (AI), coupled with increasingly powerful computational capabilities promises solutions to our most complex problems. AI touches a broad swath of our lives from recommending movies we might enjoy, to assisting in the diagnosis of disease, and being the guardian in our cyber-security efforts. Yet there is far more potential for AI than has been realized. The full potential for AI is within Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). AGI is the ability to negotiate novel challenges without being expressly taught or programed. It is widely held that AI should emulate the human brain. However, human cognition is flawed. Human standards are inconsistent, nuanced, and subject to a vast array of independent and inter-dependent societal norms. I believe that AGI will only be fully realized when (1) outcomes can be definitively explained, (2) the outcomes will vary based on the user’s norms, and (3) outcomes are consistent within a set of ethical standards. Given these parameters, would AGI have admitted you to EKU?
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Kelly Carter is a Data Scientist with CACI International, where she supports US national security sector clients and an NCAA Division I Coach for the North Carolina State University Rifle Team. Her expertise spans artificial intelligence (AI), cyber operations, communications engineering, and emergency operations. A retired Army Colonel, she served 32-years in the US Military. Dr. Carter holds a certificate in Artificial Intelligence Strategy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a PhD in Business with a specialization in Homeland Defense from Northcentral University, a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Eastern Kentucky University. Her dissertation, ‘The speed of information: How ad-hoc networks and spontaneous participation speed crisis response,’ quantified the positive effect of ad-hoc networks in crisis response.
Dr. Carter currently supports the Customs and Border Protection Agency using AI techniques to address significant law enforcement challenges. She previously supported the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in which she conducted AI Kaggle-style challenges drawing in commercial AI experts. Prior to joining CACI, Kelly was the Director of Science and Technology for a firm in which she initiated the US Department of Defense (DoD) effort to evaluate cyber resilience and vulnerabilities. She was also a part of an AI research and development group supporting the DoD, Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO). Dr. Carter served as an Emerging Technology and Science Advisor to the Army, Chief Information Officer (CIO), and as Executive Scientist supporting the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, where she was responsible for oversight of communications acquisition programs totaling over $3 billion dollars.
A distinguished Army career of 32 years culminated with Colonel Carter’s posting as Deputy Commander for 311th Signal Command (Pacific Theater). Additionally, she served as adjunct faculty for the U.S. Army Senior Service College, instructing and guiding over 1700 senior US and international military officers, civilians, and interagency executive students.
Dr. Carter mentors individuals and groups, and has spoken on a variety of topics including: ‘Explainable AI,’ 2021, MIT’s RSI Symposium; ‘Explainable AI,’ 2020, The AFCEA Army Signal Conference; ‘Women in Technology,’ 2019, Women in Business Conference; ‘Ad-hoc Networks and Crisis Response,’ 2018, International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics; ‘The Impact of Helicopter Evacuation,’ 2016, Helicopter Association Intl.; ‘Leadership, the Army, and the Junior Officer,’ 2015, George Mason University, and 2014, Eastern Kentucky University.
Kelly’s philanthropic work includes advocating the benefits of therapy dogs in disaster response. She is an avid dog handler and has worked with People Animals Love (PAL), HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response (AACR), and Therapy Dogs International (TDI). Dr. Carter served on the Board of Directors for The Aurora Foundation, a non-profit veteran’s service organization, and as the Director for Institute for Military Cyber Affairs, Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA).