Cerebras unveils the CS-1, explaining NLP, and China’s plan for university-level AI education

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Worth Knowing

Cerebras Unveils Computer Using Largest Chip Ever Built: Last week, Cerebras Systems announced the CS-1, a computer designed around its Wafer Scale Engine. The WSE, released in August, is specialized for deep learning. It is also the largest computer chip ever produced, at more than 50 times larger than standard chips. The CS-1 provides the infrastructure for users to work with the chip, beginning with Argonne National Laboratory, the company’s first partner. Cerebras says the CS-1 delivers the performance of 1,000 GPUs combined, though this claim has not been verified.
Toolkit for Explaining Natural Language Processing Predictions: Researchers at the Allen Institute for AI created “AllenNLP Interpret,” a set of tools to help explain results from natural language processing models. The software can identify which words in a given input have the most influence over a model’s prediction, and identify hypothetical alterations that would result in different predictions. The demo uses saliency maps to display words most important for the model’s output. The authors hope AllenNLP Interpret will help researchers better understand the models they develop.
Hikvision Markets AI Camera that Identifies Uyghurs: Hikvision, the world’s largest video surveillance product manufacturer, marketed an AI camera that can automatically distinguish Uyghurs from Han, surveillance information platform IPVM reported. When contacted by IPVM, Hikvision removed the product page from its website and refused to comment. IPVM’s Charles Rollet wrote that Hikvision’s rapid removal of the item suggests other companies engage in similar identification but self-censor. This is the second time in two years that the Chinese company has been confronted by IPVM about minority analytics and removed information from its website.
What Natural Language Processing Means for Disinformation: The rapid progress in natural language processing poses both challenges and opportunities for combatting disinformation. Researchers at Middlebury argue that the availability of NLP models like GPT-2 will significantly increase the risk of fake content. At the same time, cybersecurity company FireEye is exploring how to combat information operations with natural language processing models. The company claims it can use neural networks to detect patterns within text that suggest it was generated by deep learning-based language generators.
Government Updates

2019 Annual USCC Report Highlights Emerging Technology: The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission submitted its annual report to Congress on the national security implications of the economic relationship between the United States and China. The report includes a section on emerging technologies and military-civil fusion that argues Chinese advancements in AI could undermine U.S. economic and military advantages. The Commission makes several recommendations to Congress, including reestablishing a higher education advisory board under the FBI to identify signs of technology transfer. However, critics have noted errors and hyperbole in the report regarding China’s space program.

2016–2019 Progress Report Published on Advancing AI R&D: The National Science and Technology Council has released its Progress Report on AI R&D. The report describes how federal agencies are advancing the field in accordance with the National AI R&D Strategic Plan. It divides AI research by national strategy, sector and agency contribution, emphasizing the breadth and depth of federal investments in AI.

What We’re Reading

Report: Characteristics of H-1B Specialty Occupation Workers: Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report to Congress, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security (November 2019)

Strategy: National Artificial Intelligence Strategy: Advancing Our Smart Nation Journey, Smart Nation Singapore (November 2019)

Paper: Artificial Intelligence in Land Forces: A Position Paper, The German Army Concepts and Capabilities Development Centre, Bundeswehr (October 2019)

In Translation
CSET’s translations of significant foreign language documents on AI

China’s Plan to Improve University-Level AI Education: The Artificial Intelligence Innovation Action Plan for Institutions of Higher Education: Translation of a Ministry of Education plan issued in April 2018. The plan lays out objectives designed to significantly enhance China’s cadre of AI talent and its university AI curricula by 2030.

China’s Plan to Build a National Tech Transfer System: The Program to Build a National Technology Transfer System: Translation of a PRC State Council plan issued in 2017. It briefly addresses China’s system for acquiring foreign technology but primarily focuses on the transfer of technology within China.

What’s New at CSET

PUBLICATIONSIN THE NEWS
  • Hewlett Foundation: CSET was awarded a $2 million grant to support a new Cybersecurity and AI project led by Ben Buchanan. CyberAI will explore the effects of automation on cyber offense and defense.
  • Syracuse University News: As part of a new $500,000 partnership with CSET, Syracuse University Institute for Security Policy and Law will assist CSET in investigating the legal, policy and security impacts of emerging technology. Judge James Baker is the grant’s principal investigator.
  • South China Morning Post: Helen Toner spoke about China’s AI ambitions in an article about Chinese reliance on U.S. technology.
  • CNAS: Andrew Imbrie and Elsa Kania have become members of CNAS’s newly launched Digital Freedom Forum.
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