‘AI can contribute to Kashmir’s rich heritage, promote cross-cultural understanding and dialogue’

“AI-powered tools,” she says, “can help in the restoration and conservation of historical sites and monuments, ensuring that Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage is preserved for future generations.”

In a candid chat with Free Press Kashmir, Dr. Gousia simplifies the complexity around AI and its future course of action in the valley.

So, what sparked your interest in computer science, and how did your Kashmiri background influence your research focus? 

My journey in computer science began with my undergraduate studies in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) from the University of Kashmir, where I discovered a passion for problem-solving and technology. This led me to pursue a Master’s degree (M.Tech CSE from the Central University Of Punjab), specializing in areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Motivated by a desire to contribute to research, I pursued a Ph.D., conducting groundbreaking research at institutions like NIT Srinagar and Postdoctoral research from IIT Delhi. 

Despite encountering challenges, each obstacle strengthened my resolve and fuelled my passion for computer science. Today, I am equipped with technical expertise and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of Innovation in the field. 

Your academic journey is quite remarkable, from NIT Srinagar to IIT Delhi. I am sure you have had a fair share of challenges during your academic journey. Could you tell us about a pivotal moment or challenge you faced during this journey that significantly impacted your career trajectory?

During the final stretch of my PhD journey, I encountered a monumental challenge that tested my resilience like never before. Just two days before submitting my thesis, I found myself in the hospital facing acute hypertension while giving birth to my first child. Both my baby and I were admitted to the ICU in critical condition, but thankfully, we both recovered fully, thanks to the grace of the Almighty. Despite the immense strain this ordeal placed on my career trajectory, I refused to succumb to despair. Instead, I embraced the adversity with renewed determination and zeal. This experience taught me the true meaning of resilience and reinforced my commitment to my academic pursuits. 

Alongside this, I faced another significant obstacle in the form of an irksome reviewer for my thesis. Their persistent criticism and demands tested my patience and resolve to the limit. However, through sheer perseverance and unwavering dedication, I managed to overcome this formidable challenge as well. I poured myself into my work, addressing each critique meticulously and striving for excellence in every aspect of my thesis. In the end, my diligence paid off, and I emerged victorious, proving once again that adversity only serves to fuel my determination to succeed. 

That is truly inspiring! You’ve mentioned specializing in areas like artificial intelligence and machine learning during your Master’s and Ph.D. studies. What sparked your interest in Deep Learning, and how did this passion evolve over time, especially in the face of such significant challenges? 

During my Master’s and Ph.D., I became fascinated by the potential of these technologies to revolutionise various fields, from healthcare to robotics. Despite facing challenges such as complex mathematical concepts and the rapid evolution of the field, my passion for understanding and applying these technologies continued to grow. Each challenge I encountered became an opportunity to learn and innovate, reinforcing my belief in the transformative power of machine learning and deep learning.

What’s the most exciting AI or ML project you’ve worked on recently?

 

I recently worked on a Knowledge distillation project. Knowledge distillation is indeed an exciting project! It’s cool because it allows for compressing large, complex models into smaller, more efficient ones, while still retaining their performance. This technique opens doors for deploying AI models on resource-constrained devices, making them more accessible and practical for real-world applications. 

I’m curious, how do you think AI and ML can help preserve and promote endangered languages like Kashmiri? 

AI and ML can aid in creating language preservation tools by digitizing and transcribing endangered languages like Kashmiri. Through automatic speech recognition and natural language processing, these technologies can facilitate language documentation, translation, and educational resources, fostering preservation efforts and revitalization initiatives. 

And how can AI and ML be used to tackle big social and environmental challenges, like climate change or economic inequality?

The biggest challenge facing AI and ML research today is ensuring ethical development and deployment, including bias mitigation, transparency, and accountability. Overcoming this requires interdisciplinary collaboration, robust regulatory frameworks, and ongoing dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to promote responsible AI innovation and usage. 

But how can we ensure AI and ML benefit everyone, not just a select few? 

To ensure AI and ML benefit everyone, we must prioritize diversity and inclusion in dataset collection and model development to mitigate biases, promote accessibility by investing in education and training programs for all communities, and foster transparency and accountability in AI systems, ensuring they align with ethical guidelines and serve the broader societal good. 

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in AI and ML research? 

The beginners should master the fundamentals of math, stats, and coding. They should stay curious, learn continuously, and explore hands-on projects. 

How do you see AI and ML changing the future of work? What new opportunities or challenges do you see arising?

AI and ML are poised to transform the future of work by automating routine tasks, augmenting human capabilities, and creating new job opportunities in fields like data science, AI ethics, and human-computer interaction. However, challenges such as job displacement, skills gap, and ethical concerns regarding algorithmic bias and privacy may arise, necessitating proactive measures such as reskilling initiatives, regulatory frameworks, and ethical guidelines to ensure a fair and inclusive future of work. 

How do we balance the benefits of AI and ML with concerns around privacy, security, and ethics? 

Balancing the benefits of AI and ML with concerns around privacy, security, and ethics entails implementing robust data privacy measures, developing transparent and accountable AI systems, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, empowering individuals with data control, and promoting continuous monitoring and auditing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities and ethical dilemmas proactively. 

And how can AI and ML promote cultural understanding and exchange, particularly in regions like Kashmir? 

AI and ML hold promise in fostering cultural understanding in regions like Kashmir by facilitating communication through language translation, recommending diverse cultural content, and offering immersive experiences via VR and AR. Social media analysis can identify commonalities among communities, while educational platforms can tailor content to reflect cultural diversity. Through community engagement and cultural preservation efforts, AI can contribute to mutual respect and appreciation for Kashmir’s rich heritage, promoting cross-cultural understanding and dialogue. 

That’s fascinating! How do you envision AI and ML impacting cultural preservation efforts in Kashmir specifically? 

AI and ML can play a crucial role in preserving Kashmiri culture by digitizing and archiving cultural artifacts, documents, and languages. These technologies can also aid in translating and transcribing ancient texts, facilitating the preservation and dissemination of cultural knowledge. Additionally, AI-powered tools can help in the restoration and conservation of historical sites and monuments, ensuring that Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage is preserved for future generations. 

That sounds like a significant contribution. Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest challenge facing AI and ML research today?

The biggest challenge facing AI and ML research today is ensuring ethical development and deployment, including bias mitigation, transparency, and accountability. As these technologies become more pervasive in our daily lives, it’s crucial to address these challenges to ensure that AI and ML benefit society as a whole. 

How can researchers and practitioners in the field work together to address these challenges? 

Researchers and practitioners can work together to address these challenges by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, developing robust regulatory frameworks, and promoting ethical guidelines for AI and ML development and deployment. Additionally, ongoing dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders is essential to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly and ethically. 

How do you see AI and ML evolving in the future, particularly in their impact on society and the environment?

AI and ML will continue to evolve rapidly, with increasingly sophisticated applications across various industries and sectors. In terms of their impact on society and the environment, these technologies have the potential to drive positive change by optimizing resource allocation, improving healthcare outcomes, and addressing complex societal challenges. However, it’s crucial to ensure that these technologies are developed and deployed responsibly, with a focus on ethical considerations and the broader societal good. 

Thank you for sharing your insights! One final question: What do you hope your legacy will be in the field of AI and ML?

I hope that my legacy in the field of AI and ML will be one of innovation, collaboration, and ethical leadership. I aspire to have a positive impact on society through my research and to inspire future generations of researchers to use AI and ML for the greater good.