Chirag Shah

Professor

University of Washington

Artificial Intelligence

About Me

Chirag Shah is Professor of Information and Computer Science at University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. He is the Founding Director for InfoSeeking Lab and Founding Co-Director of Center for Responsibility in AI Systems & Experiences (RAISE). His research focuses on building, auditing, and correcting intelligent information access systems. In addition to creating AI-driven information access systems that provide more personalized reactive and proactive recommendations, he is also focusing on making such systems transparent, fair, and free of biases. Shah is a Distinguished Member of ACM as well as ASIS&T, and a Senior Member of IEEE. He has published nearly 200 peer-reviewed articles and authored seven books, including text books on data science and machine learning. He also works closely with industrial research labs on cutting-edge problems, typically as a visiting researcher. The most recent engagements include Amazon, ByteDance, Getty Images, Microsoft Research, and Spotify.

Hear My Insights

The New York Times Debate: Is AI the New Plastic?

Remember when plastic was everything? The golden ticket to cheaper manufacturing, maximum profit and easier living? Turns out the saying is true: Nothing comes without a price; and the world has paid its weight, now, in environmental devastation and a plastic island the size of a small continent floating around the Pacific. Some argue that the same will be true of artificial intelligence. It has been hailed as the most transformative technology since the internet, and could have huge benefits for battling climate change, industries, government and more. But concerns are piling up. The amount of energy required to build AI is already harming the planet more than helping it and big questions are being asking about its potential impact on society and ethical concerns. Will the benefits of AI outweigh its costs?

What You’re Looking For: How AI Is Changing Search Engines

For over 25 years, search engines have been our primary gateway to the internet. Today, the emergence of AI-driven search engines has the potential to reshape the search landscape, transforming not only the way we consume content but also how we navigate online. Media traffic and associated revenue models are now under scrutiny, as AI might disrupt traditional ad-based frameworks. Challenges associated with AI-powered search engines have emerged, while AI-applications open new avenues for revenue models. Are we really at a turning point in the evolution of search? What could these changes mean for sales and marketing strategies? How will AI impact the user journey when searching for information?