As AI continues to weave into the fabric of everyday life, the need for more secure, transparent, and trustworthy systems is more pressing than ever. Arka Daw, a Distinguished Staff Fellow at the Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is actively addressing these challenges, as reported by ORNL News. Daw, hailing from Jadavpur University in India, where he first crossed paths with AI, has since directed his career towards demystifying AI's "black box".
At ORNL, Daw's work is cut out for him, his research probes the robustness of AI models and develops deep learning frameworks aimed at reinforcing their reliability, especially regarding out-of-distribution samples and defense techniques against adversarial attacks. According to a statement obtained by ORNL News, he expressed a concern about these unseen threats, "You can make very tiny perturbations in the images, and the AI will start predicting something else. That’s a huge risk when you’re using AI in fields like autonomous driving." Daw's journey through the realms of AI wasn't without its turns, as he transitioned from electronics to computer science, ultimately earning his doctorate at Virginia Tech. The shift in focus from utilizing AI for scientific application to ensuring its security was driven by a solid belief in AI's potential, yet a realization of its inherent limitations.
Fostering trust in AI involves peeling back the layers to understand how predictions are made, which is fundamental for critical applications such as biometrics and national security. ORNL News quotes Daw, "It’s like magic, you feed in an input, and out comes a prediction. But we don’t always know why." Tackling this issue, Daw's research aspires to create frameworks that not only process data but also explain decisions in a comprehensible manner, enhancing user trust.
Outside of the lab, Daw's interests, which include cooking and cricket, embody his inclusive approach to both life and work. He is passionate about the diversity of Indian cuisine and enjoys experimenting with Italian and Asian dishes, as well. His love for the game of cricket remains a link to his Indian roots where he once actively played. He told ORNL News, "I love watching the India team play, and the Ashes between England and Australia is always exciting." His advice to burgeoning researchers reflects his personal narrative of exploration, a willingness to leap into the unknown to uncover new vistas.
In the context of cultivating future scientific leaders, ORNL's Distinguished Staff Fellowship program provides not just a platform for research but also the mentorship and resources needed to steer bright minds such as Daw. Under the management of UT-Battelle for the DOE's Office of Science, ORNL stands at the forefront of addressing key scientific challenges. To learn more about the scope of work and impact of these fellows, ORNL News invites readers to access fact sheets detailing the accomplishments and focus areas of each fellow at ORNL.
