Growing up in a small town in Kansas, Anderson’s curiosity about the world around him was always piqued. He spent hours tinkering with gadgets, taking apart machines and trying to understand how they worked. When he first learned about AI, it was like a light bulb went off in his head. He saw the potential for machines to learn and improve on their own, and knew that he wanted to be a part of this emerging field.
Despite his professor’s advice to pursue something more practical, Anderson’s passion for AI never waned. He spent countless hours reading and researching, and even created his own algorithms to experiment with. He knew that he had found his calling, and was determined to find a way to make a career out of it.
Anderson’s dedication and perseverance paid off, as he went on to become an accomplished researcher and professor in the field of AI. He has published numerous papers and has been recognized for his contributions to the industry. Looking back, he is grateful for the guidance and support he received along the way, but is also proud of the fact that he stayed true to his passion and pursued a career in AI.
New frontiers
Anderson’s passion for AI is infectious, and his dedication to his students is unparalleled. He believes that the best way to learn is by doing, and encourages his students to get their hands dirty with research projects as early as possible. His lab is a hive of activity, with students from all levels of study working together to push the boundaries of what AI can do.
One of Anderson’s most exciting projects involves using AI to detect landmines in simulated environments. This has the potential to save countless lives in war-torn regions around the world, and has garnered interest from both the military and humanitarian organizations. Anderson’s work in “explainable AI” is also groundbreaking, as it could lead to more ethical and transparent decision-making in fields like healthcare and finance.
Anderson’s students are making significant contributions to the field of AI as well. Dhruv Agarwal, a freshman from St. Louis, is just one example of the talented young minds in Anderson’s lab. Agarwal is working on a project to teach a smart car to recognize roadblocks and traffic lights by learning from synthetic images. This has the potential to make self-driving cars safer and more efficient, and is just one of the many innovative projects that Anderson’s students are working on. Anderson’s impact on the world of AI is undeniable, and his students are poised to make their own mark on the industry. With his guidance and mentorship, they are developing the skills and knowledge they need to shape the future of AI and change the world for the better.
All the ambition
Derek Anderson’s journey in AI started back in 1998 when he was an undergraduate at Wichita State University. His professor introduced him to the field, and he has been passionate about it ever since. Anderson is now an associate professor in electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri. His expertise includes machine learning, computational intelligence, computer vision, and information fusion.
Anderson’s recent research projects include training AI to detect landmines by using simulated environments and developing “explainable AI.” This concept aims to create AI that can explain its decision-making processes, which could revolutionize how AI systems are built. Anderson’s students, from undergraduates to doctoral candidates, are gaining hands-on experience in his lab and securing prominent jobs in the AI sector.
While headline-grabbing AI systems such as Chat GPT and DALL-E have captured the public’s imagination, Anderson sees them as only the latest phase of AI’s multi-decade lifespan. He is part of the third generation of AI scientists who have migrated statistics and mathematics over to AI. Anderson’s work in explainable AI seeks to revolutionize diagnostic and decision-making processes in AI systems, exposing potential biases or incongruencies in uncertain conditions.
Anderson relishes the opportunity to mold minds, including his own. For him, the “why” explains his motivation. He values the classroom and lab as intellectual places where he can change himself and his students. Anderson’s guidance is sought beyond Mizzou’s halls, too. He is a program co-chair for three national AI conferences in 2023, and he sits on multiple Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers committees grappling with topics including AI workforce policy and ethical issues surrounding privacy, equity, and justice.
Anderson’s students are already making significant contributions to AI research. Dhruv Agarwal, a freshman Discovery Fellow from St. Louis, is working on a project in Anderson’s lab to help make synthetic data more applicable for machine learning. Phillip Lei, a freshman computer science major from Columbia, is planning to join an accelerated master’s program through Anderson’s lab because he finds the research fascinating and exciting.
Anderson’s research in AI has come a long way since his undergraduate days in 1998, but he is still excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. As AI continues to evolve, Anderson and his students are determined to be at the forefront of this dynamic field.
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