Leading AI scholar Professor Zhang Chengqi explores impact of ChatGPT in distinguished lecture

Professor Liu Jiming, Associate Vice-President (Research Development), Dean of Science (left) presents a souvenir to Professor Zhang Chengqi (right).

Professor Zhang Chengqi, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Distinguished Professor at the University of Technology Sydney, delivered an enlightening lecture titled “The Impact of ChatGPT on Artificial Intelligence Research and Social Development” on September 4, 2023 (Monday), marking the beginning of an exciting new semester.

During the Lecture, Professor Zhang embarked on a profound journey through the evolution of artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the transformative emergence of ChatGPT. He highlighted the significant breakthroughs that artificial intelligence (AI) has made in the field of cognition. However, he also pointed out the inherent limitations in accuracy and reliability that generative models like ChatGPT possess. He emphasised the importance of how to effectively harness ChatGPT, striking a delicate balance between its potential to generate preliminary solutions and stimulate innovative thinking, while concurrently addressing potential risks. In error-sensitive areas, he advocated for cautious use to maximise ChatGPT’s impact on human life and work in a positive manner.

Professor Zhang's distinguished academic career is accentuated by his prolific publication record, featuring over 350 research papers. These contributions have not only enriched the scientific community but have also garnered more than 26,000 citations, culminating in an impressive H-index of 69, as duly noted by Google Scholar. His influence extends beyond the confines of academia, as evidenced by his role as the chairperson of three renowned artificial intelligence conferences, including the 2010 IEEE International Conference on Data Mining (ICDM), the Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD) 2015, and the upcoming International Joint Conferences on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) 2024. Professor Zhang's work and leadership are indeed instrumental in shaping the landscape of artificial intelligence and advancing our understanding of its impact on society.

Please click here for the full video of the Lecture and here for more photos.