Open Forum: The Latest Views on AI and Large Language Models

Welcome and Introductions: 11:30 am to 11:45 am

Initial Presentation: 11:45 am to 12:45 pm

Speaker: David J. Haas

Topic: Patents and Inventions: How and Why do we Innovate?

The second annual Joel Kirman Memorial Lecture on the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology

This presentation reviews the “invention process,” the Patent System and innovation (meaning product improvement and development). It explains how invention is not genius, but only a simple process that anyone can perform. There are many books and societies relating to inventions, patents, and the innovation process. Our patent system was created by the founding fathers, with George Washington signing Patent #1 in 1790 and more than eleven million patents being issued by the end of 2022 (currently about 300,000 patents each year).

Economists estimate that more than 50 percent of the growth in the United States GDP (for the past few decades) results from inventions and innovations—a great American success story. This talk will cover the creation and development of several specific inventions (and their successes and failures). In addition, we will discuss the two essential properties of any successful invention: it must be novel (patentable), and people must need it.

David Haas received his BA in Physics and PhD in Biophysics in protein crystallography and molecular biology at the State University of NY at Buffalo. For the next five years, he performed basic research in protein crystallography at several institutions in Europe, Israel and the United States. In 1970, he joined Philips Electronic Instruments in Mt Vernon NY as Principal Scientist for X-ray systems, working on analytical instruments and designing some of the first airport security X-ray systems that were used worldwide during the 1970s. Conceiving the idea of a self-expiring security ID (Visitor badge), David and his wife, Sandra, formed Temtec Inc. which developed and manufactured high-tech visitor and temporary IDs for more than 20 years under the brand name TEMPbadge. Temtec Inc. was sold to Brady Worldwide Corporation in 2002. David & Sandra Haas have more than 100 patents to their credit as well as many technical and scientific publications.

Dr. Haas has published a book by ASIS International entitled: “Personal Identification – Its Modern Development and Security Implications." It reviews the history and reasons for modern personal identification documents such as Passports, National Identity Cards, etc. Dr. Haas has also published a monograph on the development of Electronic Security Screening for Aviation Passenger Screening between 1968-1973.

Main Presentation: 12:45 pm to 2:30 pm

Open forum moderated by Bill Rosser

Topic: The Latest Views on AI and Large Language Models

The news media coverage of AI and LLMs seems to keep growing every week, with many different perspectives and greatly varying levels of quality. Also, regular productive use of the ChatGPT tool has been embraced by many business departments and seasoned users, who often employ careful query prompts. [Note: At our November 6 meeting, Carol Klitzner will discuss these techniques and give examples of their use.]

Join our discussion to review developments since our previous discussion last March.

What is the very best overview of this AI blockbuster and its future?

Here is a larger perspective to consider:

1) AI is on the continuum of science and discovery over the centuries—but with hugely faster dissemination. It can be of great value. We have controlled other very dangerous technologies, such as commercial airlines. It is time to quell the alarm.

2) There is a great rush to apply AI, but it is not an arms race. We must manage the rush and establish independent regulators to enforce appropriate oversight.

3) We can anticipate the development of Personal Intelligent Agents for use by each of us—like cellphones—within two to three years.

Join us. We are looking forward to hearing everyone’s ideas.

Bill Rosser retired from Gartner, Inc., Stamford, CT, the worldwide top-ranked advisory firm providing guidance to corporations regarding their use of information technology. As a Gartner VP and Distinguished Analyst, he spent 29 years writing, speaking and advising clients about effective use of IT. He studied Basic Engineering at Princeton University, and after work in telecommunications in San Francisco, returned to the Harvard Business School and graduated with Distinction in 1962. In 1969 he formed his own start-up in data processing based on the new electronic cash registers, and after a merger, worked in strategic planning for Perkin-Elmer and Exxon Enterprises prior to Gartner. Today Bill is active as an architectural walking tour guide (Grand Central Terminal and the NoHo Historic District) and is a founding member of "Reform Elections Now" (with fellow Harvard Business School graduates) promoting vital improvements in the election processes such as Ranked Choice Voting.