College of Science Distinguished Speaker: Physical AI and the Intelligence of Things

College of Science Distinguished Speaker Series
Physical AI and the Intelligence of Things

Dr. Daniela Rus
Panasonic Professor of Computer Science
Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL),
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Abstract:
Artificial intelligence is leaving the cloud and entering the world, not as abstract code, but as a property of physical systems themselves. This is the promise of Physical AI: intelligence that is compact, adaptive, and embodied, inspired by the dynamics of living systems. Such AI could make our technologies more efficient, trustworthy, and human-centered, but it also forces us to confront profound questions. What does it mean when intelligence no longer sits apart from the world, but is woven into its fabric? Will Physical AI become a foundation for resilience and care, or will it bind us to technologies we cannot escape or control?
Physical Intelligence is achieved when AI’s power to understand text, images, signals, and other information is used to make physical machines such as robots intelligent. However, a critical challenge remains: balancing AI’s capabilities with sustainable energy usage. To achieve effective physical intelligence, we need energy-efficient AI systems that can run reliably on robots, sensors, and other edge devices. In this talk I will discuss the energy challenges of foundational AI models, I will introduce several state space models and explain how they achieve energy efficiency, and I will talk about how state space models enable physical intelligence.

Bio:
Daniela Rus is the Panasonic Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT. Professor Rus's research interests are in robotics and artificial intelligence, specifically on developing the science and engineering of autonomy and intelligence.Professor Rus is a MacArthur Fellow, a fellow of ACM, IEEE, AAAI and AAAS, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She is the recipient of the Engelberger Award for robotics, the John Scott medal, the IEEE Edison Medal, IEEE Robotics and Automation technical award, and the IJCAI John McCarthy Award.
Professor Rus served as a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), the Defense Innovation Board, and as a USA expert for Global Partnerships in AI. She is a senior visiting fellow at MITRE Corporation. She currently serves on the board of directors of Symbotic, SymphonyAI, and Mass Robotics, as well as on the Board of Trustees for MBZUAI. She is the co-founder and board member of LiquidAI, ThemisAI, and Venti Technologies.
She earned her Ph.D. in computer science from Cornell University. Professor Rus aspires to help build a world where robotics and AI systems can help people with physical and cognitive work, accelerate scientific discovery, and enable solutions to the grand challenges facing humanity. She is the co-author of the books The Heart and The Chip: Our Bright Future with Robots and The Mind’s Mirror: Risk and Reward in the Age of AI.

Intended Audience:
Beginners, undergraduates, graduates. Those with interest in the topic.

The lecture will be hosted from 1-1:50pm, followed by a light reception. 

To request an interpreter, please visit myaccess.rit.edu