Discovering the AI pulse: UB’s revived AI Club

Editor’s note: It’s not always easy for students to find their place at a large, research university like UB. Thankfully, there are hundreds of clubs on campus — nearly 500, in fact — where students can take a break from their studies, make friends, pursue their passions or simply try something new. UB clubs build a sense of belonging and True Blue pride in the university. To help, UBNow has introduced Club Watch, an occasional feature highlighting one of UB’s many student clubs or organizations that you may not know about — but should.

For those of you who have wondered why your playlist just seems to “get” your music vibe, or how a game like "Dark Souls" adapts to challenge you just right, this UBNow story is for you.

Shubham Pandey, president of UB’s newly revived student AI Club, can explain:

"That's artificial intelligence at work,” Pandey says, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. “AI learns, from tailoring a personalized workout plan based on your fitness data to Google maps predicting traffic patterns."

Pandey, now a graduate student at UB with prior experience in the AI field, arrived from India last fall to pursue a master's degree in AI, specializing in both theory and practice. What he found was a campus full of eager minds but no centralized place for AI enthusiasts to gather, share and collaborate.

The situation was akin to a bustling marketplace with no central square, says Pandey, “a void needed to be filled — a need for a community.”

"I noticed a skill gap among students,” he says. "So I thought a club could bridge this, bringing everyone together.”

Feeling unchallenged in his "Intro to AI" course, Pandey approached David Doermann, who at the time was director of UB’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

Doermann, who taught the course, suggested reviving a club. Initially skeptical and wary of another fizzling endeavor, Pandey's enthusiasm proved to be infectious.

"The UB AI Club is now in its third year and represents the excitement about AI in the UB community,” says Doermann, now interim chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. “The students are showing incredible initiative to organize speakers, workshops and social events to promote AI education and research.

“The club is supported by the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science but operates independently to bring cutting-edge information to the student population."

Pandey says Doermann's idea to revive the AI Club aligned well with students' growing interest.

Soon, with logistical help from Harshit Monish, a 2021 MS AI program alumnus and former president of the Google Developer Student Club at UB, things fell into place. Monish’s AI interest and leadership experience made him an invaluable ally. With his help, Pandey took the reins, and the AI Club was reborn.

Its members hold a clear vision for its trajectory.

"Our goal is to build the university's best AI team,” says Shail Rajesh Shah, UB AI Club secretary. “We plan to focus on skill-building projects, hackathons and networking opportunities."

From an inaugural event last November, which was little more than a small classroom meeting, to hosting a series of 10 events the following spring — including workshops on machine learning, introductions to computer vision and natural language processing, simple applications and guest lectures from industry experts — the AI Club has established itself as a vital campus resource.

And it's not just about discussing arcane algorithms or puzzling over research papers.

"The idea is to create a symbiotic environment," Pandey says, "where those with experience can guide and receive assistance on their projects, while the less-experienced can learn and gain skills."

Think back to the time you scrolled through Netflix, and the platform soon suggested the perfect movie for your mood. That's AI at work. Pandey would explain this fundamental principle of AI in club meetings, igniting fascination even in AI novices.

The club invited speakers from ACV Auctions, a local startup specializing in online automotive auctions, who explained how data science could determine the resale value of a used car, making the application of AI relatable and intriguing.

The club started with 10 members. But like any good story, word spread.

"Now I see the numbers going up and up," says Pandey.

The club welcomes anyone interested — graduates, undergraduates and even those outside computer science fields.

"AI has applications beyond computer science,” says Pandey. “It's used in fields like physics, chemistry, biology and even social sciences. We're also actively engaging with LGBTQ+ communities to address AI's societal impacts and how to combat biases, especially in data sets that marginalize people of color.

“Our goal is to make everyone feel represented.”

Pandey often shares a telling example to illustrate AI's ethical and interpretive challenges.

"There's a famous story where a medical store’s predictive model detected a girl's pregnancy through her shopping pattern even before her father knew," says Pandey.

For Pandey, stories like these underscore AI's incredible capabilities, but emphasize the need to comprehend the “hows” and “whys” of AI decision-making. His focus lies in interpretable AI and machine-learning systems, advocating universal transparency.

When Pandey refers to "opening the black box," he means peeling back the curtain on AI's decision-making. Imagine knowing why your loan got denied or how a health care algorithm determined your treatment plan. For Pandey, this transparency is crucial for AI's accountability.

“The aim is to enable users to understand AI decisions, ensuring trust and utility,” says Pandey.

With Pandey graduating, the AI torch needs to be passed, but he's confident.

"With many members graduating, we're gearing up for elections,” he says. “We're welcoming new members to ensure the club's continuity, from graduates to undergraduates of diverse backgrounds."

In an era where algorithms are increasingly shaping our lives, UB’s AI Club has become a microcosm of what AI can offer to the world — a nexus where technological innovation intersects with human curiosity.

“The future is fascinating,” Pandey says. “And it's here to stay.”

How to join: Contact the AI Club on Instagram, Discord or UBLinked.