INESC-ID

Category: Highlights

  • “GPT is wonderful! Use it without fear, – but with caution”, advises Luísa Coheur at Técnico Open Day

    “GPT is wonderful! Use it without fear, – but with caution”, advises Luísa Coheur at Técnico Open Day

    The auditorium was completely full, mostly of youngsters, who wanted to listen to Luísa Coheur’s talk at Técnico Open Day: “ChatGPT – potentials and risks.” And there was no disappointment, since a good share of the participants stayed beyond schedule in a very vivid conversation with the researcher at INESC-ID’s Human Language Technologies (HLT) lab and a teacher at Técnico.

    The talk started with a retrospective on the origins of the now ubiquitous Large Language Models (LLM). “They were not born today, they are the result of many years of study in natural language processing, and also machine learning”, the researcher noted.

    Starting on the sixties of past century, the field has grown ever since, with an impressive evolution after the first public presentation of the most famous LLM, GPT, in 2019. “The first versions generated text that was correct, but still a bit confusing”, Luísa told the audience. “But with GPT-3 it is madness!”

    Assuming herself as a great enthusiast of the models, the researcher and teacher urged the students to incorporate this tool in their lives, including to fulfil their academic tasks. “I use it all the time, to prepare classes or to make presentations like this one”, Luísa revealed, giving the example of the illustrations, all created through instructions given to the model.

    But if first half of the conference was devoted to the advantages of using LLM, the second was focused on the risks. “Never trust it completely, always check.” Voice and image manipulation, made up sentences, invented sources, are the most critical aspects of this technology. But there is only one way to fight it: is to know it well and be aware of its faults.

    As the former President of USA, Franklin D. Roosevelt, famously said: “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

    Another presentation that also generated interest from the participants, was the one about the first University CubeSat, a satellite entirely conceived and developed in Portugal, in a collaborative team that includes INESC-ID researchers, Gonçalo Tavares and Moisés Piedade. The conference was delivered by João Paulo Monteiro, one of the researchers responsible the project, who will likely be at French Guiana in September, to assist the launch event.

    (Image: © 2024 INESC-ID)

  • AI in Science: how can the European Commission promote a responsible uptake? Arlindo Oliveira participated as an expert in a report, via the Scientific Advice Mechanism

    AI in Science: how can the European Commission promote a responsible uptake? Arlindo Oliveira participated as an expert in a report, via the Scientific Advice Mechanism

    Published on April 15, the report “Successful and timely uptake of artificial intelligence in science in the EU” was produced by a group of renowned scientists, including INESC-ID researcher Arlindo Oliveira, from the SA-IDSS research area. The experts have been asked to provide recommendations via the Scientific Advice Mechanism, concerning how the European Commission can accelerate a responsible uptake of AI in Science. Some take home messages are: The EU should prioritize AI-powered research, particularly in area where large amounts of data are available, but hard to interpret, such as personalized health, social cohesion, and the green and digital transitions; It is important to support new research into the greenest AI algorithms and infrastructure, to help manage the environmental impact of the technology; data should be high quality, responsibly collected and well curated, with fair access for European researchers and innovators.

    While science may serve as basis for developing AI-based applications, science is also to be considered as a specific field in which AI can be applied: some of the most complex scientific problems can be tackled with AI technologies (including, but not limited to, data-intensive problems).

    For a more detailed information in the scientific advice, you may check the complete report.

  • In the Media: Rui Maranhão talks with Exame Informática about ICSE24’s Impact on Software Engineering and AI Innovations

    In the Media: Rui Maranhão talks with Exame Informática about ICSE24’s Impact on Software Engineering and AI Innovations

    INESC-ID researcher and full professor at Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), Rui Maranhão*, has recently talked to Exame Informática, from Trust in News Group, about the upcoming 2024 edition of the International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), which will take place in Lisbon. 

    The interview was an opportunity for Rui Maranhão, chair of the conference, to share some exciting news and thoughts about the event. This included the record numbers of participants from African countries, and emphasised the fundamental role ICSE has in the software engineering community. ICSE not only highlights recent innovations and research in the field but ethical and environmental concerns as well, while also defining future tendencies and fostering collaboration between academia and industry. 

    ICSE is considered the premier international software engineering conference. This year, it will be held at Centro Cultural de Belém, in Lisbon, from April 14 to April 20. Registrations have reached record numbers, and the conference will focus on the link between software engineering and artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular emphasis on Large Language Models.

    Read the full article (in PT) here.

     

    *Rui Maranhão is a researcher at INESC-ID within the Automated Reasoning and Software Reliability researcher area, and full professor at Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto. His research focuses on software quality, emphasising automating the testing and debugging phases of the software development life-cycle as well as self-adaptation. 

  • ISTSat-1: Portugal’s First University CubeSat Satellite Ready for Summer Space Launch

    ISTSat-1: Portugal’s First University CubeSat Satellite Ready for Summer Space Launch

    The first University CubeSat satellite, entirely conceived and developed in Portugal, is set to launch this summer. The ISTSat-1 project was developed by a collaborative team coordinated by Rui Rocha, which includes INESC-ID researchers Gonçalo Tavares and Moisés Piedade, along with students from Instituto Superior Técnico, marking a significant achievement for Portugal’s technological presence in the international space sector. 

    This state-of-the-art nanosatellite, so named for its size and weight, demonstrates the remarkable feat of integrating all fundamental systems of a satellite into a small cube measuring just 10 cm on each side. It is scheduled to hitch a ride to space aboard the inaugural flight of the Ariane 6 rocket, launching from French Guiana in June or July this year. Once in orbit, the ISTSat-1’s mission will be to demonstrate that small CubeSats can effectively detect aircraft ADS-B signals from space in areas where ground systems cannot reach, such as oceans or very remote regions. 

    As the summer launch approaches, the ISTSat-1 team has already completed its final preparations. Recently, students from NanosatLab traveled to Exolaunch’s Berlin headquarters in Germany to integrate ISTSat-1 with the CubeSat deployer in preparation for the launch, and ensuring that the satellite is ready for the rigors of space. It will soon be shipped to Arianespace facilities in Évry, France, and subsequently to the Guiana Space Centre.

    Mission control for ISTSat-1 will be established at Técnico’s campus in Taguspark, Oeiras, and the satellite will be controlled via the CS5CEP station, licensed to AMRAD, ensuring that oversight and operation are conducted entirely from Portugal. 

    The launch and deployment of ISTSat-1 will be the culmination of an effort that began as early as 2010, when the feasibility of a CubeSat mission was assessed. In 2017, the project was selected by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Fly Your Satellite! programme, which encourages university teams to develop their own satellites and exposes team members, particularly students, to the entire project lifecycle of a space mission. 

    In 2022, researchers involved in the ISTSat-1 project headed the creation of the Técnico NanosatLab in Taguspark. This consortium led by INESC-ID and including IT, IDMEC, ISR, INESC-MN, INOV, and Instituto Superior Técnico, was the site for the final integration of the ISTSat-1, paving the way for future satellite technology development projects.

    Know more about ISTSat-1: here

    (Image sources: ISTSat-1 website, INESC-ID, ESA)

  • In the Media: Ana Paiva and Alberto Rodrigues da Silva nominated for the XXIV Government of Portugal

    In the Media: Ana Paiva and Alberto Rodrigues da Silva nominated for the XXIV Government of Portugal

    Last Friday, April 5th, distinguished INESC-ID researchers Ana Paiva and Alberto Rodrigues da Silva were officially appointed as Secretaries of State in a ceremony at Ajuda Palace in Lisbon, presided over by the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

    Ana Paiva* is the new Secretary of State for Science, serving under the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, while Alberto Rodrigues da Silva** has taken the role of Secretary of State for Modernisation and Digitalisation, under the Ministry of Youth and Modernisation. They were inaugurated alongside 41 colleagues appointed across 17 different ministries.

    *Ana Paiva is a researcher at INESC-ID within the Artificial Intelligence for People and Society research area and a Full Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Técnico, University of Lisbon. Her recent research focuses on engineering agents and robots capable of collaborating with humans in groups, fostering transparent, prosocial, and altruistic societies. She has served on the Global Agenda Council in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics of the World Economic Forum and as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Science Europe. She is a fellow of the AAAI, EurAI, and ELLIS.

    **Alberto Silva is a researcher at INESC-ID within the Information Systems research area and a Full Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Técnico, University of Lisbon. He is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), a senior member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), part of the QUATIC Series Scientific Steering Committee, and a member of GPSI/APSI, the Working Group for Information Systems Project Management of the Portuguese Association for Information Systems.

    (photo: andresmh / Flickr)

  • In the Media: Paula Carvalho discusses the spread of online hate speech with Público newspaper

    In the Media: Paula Carvalho discusses the spread of online hate speech with Público newspaper

    In an article in Público titled “Liberdade para odiar. Onde começa o discurso de ódio?” (“Freedom to hate. Where does hate speech begin?”), INESC-ID researcher Paula Carvalho shared insights about the complex and pervasive phenomenon of direct and indirect online hate speech.

    Within the context of the EU-funded project Knowing Online Hate Speech (kNOwHATE), which includes Paula Carvalho and researchers from Iscte and IST-ID, the team has analysed the content, subtleties and propagation of thousands of messages directed against immigrants, racial/ethnic groups, and LGBTIQ communities.

    With the rise of social media platforms and the rapid dissemination of information, understanding and addressing this phenomenon has become crucial for identifying, monitoring, and preventing online hate speech against these communities.

    Read the full article (in PT) here.

    *Paula Carvalho is a researcher at INESC-ID within the Information Systems Engineering research area, and an Invited Assistant Professor at Técnico, University of Lisbon. Her research interests lie in the broad areas of Natural Language Processing, Corpus Linguistics, and Computational Social Sciences. Currently, her research is particularly focused on the analysis and detection of information disorder on social media, including hate speech and conspiracy theories.

  • Isabel Trancoso honored with ISCA Medal for Scientific Achievement

    Isabel Trancoso honored with ISCA Medal for Scientific Achievement

    INESC-ID researcher Isabel Trancoso has been chosen as the recipient of the 2024 International Speech Communication Association (ISCA) Medal for Scientific Achievement. This prestigious award recognizes her “pioneering contributions to speech coding and resources for the Portuguese language, and sustained service to the speech community.”

    The ISCA Medal, established in 1989, represents ISCA’s highest achievement and acknowledges outstanding contributions to speech communication. Isabel Trancoso will be presented with the medal at the opening ceremony of Interspeech 2024 in Kos, Greece. In addition to this honor, she will deliver a keynote speech, about her work in the field and perspectives on past, present, and future of speech communication.

    Isabel Trancoso is a full professor at Instituto Superior Técnico, the former President of the Scientific Council of INESC ID, and also the founder of INESC-ID’s Speech Processing Group, now HLT (Human Language Technologies). She was president of ISCA from 2007 to 2011, and became a Fellow of ISCA in 2014.

    Recently, she has also received the honor of being appointed IEEE Fellow Committee Chair 2024 (learn more here).

    (Photo credits: Expresso Podcast “A Próxima Vaga” © Nuno Fox)

  • Leonel Sousa represents INESC-ID at 2nd European Memory Systems Forum

    Leonel Sousa represents INESC-ID at 2nd European Memory Systems Forum

    Leonel Sousa, INESC-ID researcher in the field of High-Performance Computing Architectures and Systems and a full professor at Técnico, represented INESC-ID at the second European Memory Systems Forum, held from February 29 to March 1, 2024.

    The event, hosted at The Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) and co-sponsored by Micron, brought together industry leaders and research institutes to address challenges in high-performance memory systems, vital for the advancement and scalability of high-performance computing systems, and play a pivotal role in the future of EU research and industry.

    Participating organizations included INESC-ID, BSC-CNS, Micron, ZeroPoint, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

    The forum was part of the DEEP-SEA project, a European-funded initiative with a €15 million budget, launched in April 2021.

    Know more here.

    (Photo: https://www.bsc.es/)

  • Inês Lynce featured guest alumna at Técnico “Alumni Talks – Women Edition 2024”

    Inês Lynce featured guest alumna at Técnico “Alumni Talks – Women Edition 2024”

    On International Women’s Day, Inês Lynce, President and researcher of INESC-ID, who also serves as a representative of the Gender Balance@Técnico group, participated in the “Alumni Talks – Women Edition 2024” at Instituto Superior Técnico. Joining her were five other outstanding women researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

    This special edition aimed to highlight the inspiring and successful journeys of six alumnae from Técnico. During this informal event, held over brunch, former and current students shared their experiences, career paths, and insights on their professional backgrounds.

    The distinguished guests, including Inês Lynce, were Sara Guerreiro de Sousa (Unbabel Labs & Center for Responsible AI), Mariana Marques (CAMO Engineer), Joana Pinto (Co-founder and CEO @ Clynx Health), Lara Próspero (Global Director – L&D Delivery Excellence at Microsoft), and Marta Sousa e Silva (Project Manager at Xylem, Inc.).

    The Técnico’s “Alumni Talks – Women Edition” serves as a platform to foster mentorship, networking, and empowerment among women in technology and engineering.

    (Photo credit: Communications Office DEI, Técnico)

  • In the Media: INESC-ID researchers Luisa Coheur and Helena Moniz discuss AI biases and stereotypes in Público newspaper

    In the Media: INESC-ID researchers Luisa Coheur and Helena Moniz discuss AI biases and stereotypes in Público newspaper

    In an article titled Como é que a IA nos vê? Num mundo de homens (How does AI see us? In a world of men) Luísa Coheur and Helena Moniz, INESC-ID researchers within the Human Language Technologies (HLT) research area, joined a conversation with Público Newspaper about the biases deeply embedded within machine learning algorithms. The researchers help shed light on how artificial intelligence models often reflect existing stereotypes but also perpetuate and amplify them.

    Read the full article (in PT) here.

    *Luisa Coheur is an INESC-ID researcher, and Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Técnico, UL, where she works on Natural Language Processing, specializing in Dialogue Systems, Question/Answering and Machine Translation.

    *Helena Moniz is an INESC-ID researcher, and Assistant Professor at the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Lisbon. She teaches Computational Linguistics, Computer Assisted Translation, and Machine Translation Systems and Post-editing.