Instructional Material
ARTiST: Automated Text Simplification for Task Guidance in Augmented Reality
Wu, Guande, Qian, Jing, Castelo, Sonia, Chen, Shaoyu, Rulff, Joao, Silva, Claudio
Text presented in augmented reality provides in-situ, real-time information for users. However, this content can be challenging to apprehend quickly when engaging in cognitively demanding AR tasks, especially when it is presented on a head-mounted display. We propose ARTiST, an automatic text simplification system that uses a few-shot prompt and GPT-3 models to specifically optimize the text length and semantic content for augmented reality. Developed out of a formative study that included seven users and three experts, our system combines a customized error calibration model with a few-shot prompt to integrate the syntactic, lexical, elaborative, and content simplification techniques, and generate simplified AR text for head-worn displays. Results from a 16-user empirical study showed that ARTiST lightens the cognitive load and improves performance significantly over both unmodified text and text modified via traditional methods. Our work constitutes a step towards automating the optimization of batch text data for readability and performance in augmented reality.
GAIA: Categorical Foundations of Generative AI
Figure 1: We propose a hierarchical Generative AI Architecture (GAIA) using higher-order category theory. Generative AI has become a dominant paradigm for building intelligent systems in the last few years, ranging from large language models developed with the widely used Transformer model Vaswani et al. (2017), or more recently with the structured state space sequence models Gu et al. (2022); Yin et al. (2023), and with the growing use of image diffusion algorithms Song and Ermon (2019); Yin et al. (2023). We can broadly define the problem of generative AI as the construction, maintenance, and deployment of foundation models Bommasani et al. (2022), a storehouse of human knowledge that provides the basic infrastructure for AI across some set of applications. A fundamental question, therefore, to investigate is to study the mathematical basis for foundation models. We propose a mathematical framework for a Generative AI Architecture (GAIA) (see Figure 1) based on the hypothesis that category theory MacLane (1971); Riehl (2017); Lurie (2009) provides a universal mathematical language for foundation models.
Automated Machine Learning for Multi-Label Classification
Automated machine learning (AutoML) aims to select and configure machine learning algorithms and combine them into machine learning pipelines tailored to a dataset at hand. For supervised learning tasks, most notably binary and multinomial classification, aka single-label classification (SLC), such AutoML approaches have shown promising results. However, the task of multi-label classification (MLC), where data points are associated with a set of class labels instead of a single class label, has received much less attention so far. In the context of multi-label classification, the data-specific selection and configuration of multi-label classifiers are challenging even for experts in the field, as it is a high-dimensional optimization problem with multi-level hierarchical dependencies. While for SLC, the space of machine learning pipelines is already huge, the size of the MLC search space outnumbers the one of SLC by several orders. In the first part of this thesis, we devise a novel AutoML approach for single-label classification tasks optimizing pipelines of machine learning algorithms, consisting of two algorithms at most. This approach is then extended first to optimize pipelines of unlimited length and eventually configure the complex hierarchical structures of multi-label classification methods. Furthermore, we investigate how well AutoML approaches that form the state of the art for single-label classification tasks scale with the increased problem complexity of AutoML for multi-label classification. In the second part, we explore how methods for SLC and MLC could be configured more flexibly to achieve better generalization performance and how to increase the efficiency of execution-based AutoML systems.
Defending Large Language Models against Jailbreak Attacks via Semantic Smoothing
Ji, Jiabao, Hou, Bairu, Robey, Alexander, Pappas, George J., Hassani, Hamed, Zhang, Yang, Wong, Eric, Chang, Shiyu
Aligned large language models (LLMs) are vulnerable to jailbreaking attacks, which bypass the safeguards of targeted LLMs and fool them into generating objectionable content. While initial defenses show promise against token-based threat models, there do not exist defenses that provide robustness against semantic attacks and avoid unfavorable trade-offs between robustness and nominal performance. To meet this need, we propose SEMANTICSMOOTH, a smoothing-based defense that aggregates the predictions of multiple semantically transformed copies of a given input prompt. Experimental results demonstrate that SEMANTICSMOOTH achieves state-of-the-art robustness against GCG, PAIR, and AutoDAN attacks while maintaining strong nominal performance on instruction following benchmarks such as InstructionFollowing and AlpacaEval. The codes will be publicly available at https://github.com/UCSB-NLP-Chang/SemanticSmooth.
Spike up Prime Interest in Science and Technology through Constructionist Games
Petrovič, Pavel, Agarshev, Fedir
Robotics sets have been successfully used in elementary and secondary schools in conformance with the 'learning through play' philosophy fostered by LEGO Education, while utilizing the Constructionism didactic approach. Learners discover and acquire knowledge through first-hand tangible experiences, building their own representations in a constructivist learning process. Usual pedagogical goals of the activities include introduction to the principles of control, mechanics, programming, and robotics [1]. They are organized as hands-on learning situations with teamwork cooperation of learners, project-based learning, sharing and presentations of the learners group experiences. Arriving from this tradition, we focus on a slightly different scenarios: employing the robotics sets and the named approaches when learning Physics, Mathematics, Art, Science, and other subjects. In carefully designed projects, learners build interactive models that demonstrate concepts, principles, and phenomena, perform experiments, and modify them in elaboration phases with the aim to connect, create associations and links to the actual underlying theoretical curriculum. In this way, they are collecting practical experiences which are prerequisite to successful learning process. Based on feedback from children, we continue upon two previous sets of activities that focused on Physics and Mathematics, this time with projects built around games. Learners play various games with physical artifacts in the real-world - with the models they build. They acquire skills while playing the games, analyze them, and learn about the underlying principles. They modify the game rules, strategies, create extensions, and interact with each other in an entertaining and engaging settings. This time we have designed the activities together with the children, students of applied robotics seminar, and a student of Applied Informatics.
A Review of Data Mining in Personalized Education: Current Trends and Future Prospects
Xiong, Zhang, Li, Haoxuan, Liu, Zhuang, Chen, Zhuofan, Zhou, Hao, Rong, Wenge, Ouyang, Yuanxin
Personalized education, tailored to individual student needs, leverages educational technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the digital age to enhance learning effectiveness. The integration of AI in educational platforms provides insights into academic performance, learning preferences, and behaviors, optimizing the personal learning process. Driven by data mining techniques, it not only benefits students but also provides educators and institutions with tools to craft customized learning experiences. To offer a comprehensive review of recent advancements in personalized educational data mining, this paper focuses on four primary scenarios: educational recommendation, cognitive diagnosis, knowledge tracing, and learning analysis. This paper presents a structured taxonomy for each area, compiles commonly used datasets, and identifies future research directions, emphasizing the role of data mining in enhancing personalized education and paving the way for future exploration and innovation.
GeoBotsVR: A Robotics Learning Game for Beginners with Hands-on Learning Simulation
This article introduces GeoBotsVR, an easily accessible virtual reality game that combines elements of puzzle-solving with robotics learning and aims to cultivate interest and motivation in robotics, programming, and electronics among individuals with limited experience in these domains. The game allows players to build and customize a two-wheeled mobile robot using various robotic components and use their robot to solve various procedurally-generated puzzles in a diverse range of environments. An innovative aspect is the inclusion of a repair feature, requiring players to address randomly generated electronics and programming issues with their robot through hands-on manipulation. GeoBotsVR is designed to be immersive, replayable, and practical application-based, offering an enjoyable and accessible tool for beginners to acquaint themselves with robotics. The game simulates a hands-on learning experience and does not require prior technical knowledge, making it a potentially valuable resource for beginners to get an engaging introduction to the field of robotics.
Datasets for Large Language Models: A Comprehensive Survey
Liu, Yang, Cao, Jiahuan, Liu, Chongyu, Ding, Kai, Jin, Lianwen
This paper embarks on an exploration into the Large Language Model (LLM) datasets, which play a crucial role in the remarkable advancements of LLMs. The datasets serve as the foundational infrastructure analogous to a root system that sustains and nurtures the development of LLMs. Consequently, examination of these datasets emerges as a critical topic in research. In order to address the current lack of a comprehensive overview and thorough analysis of LLM datasets, and to gain insights into their current status and future trends, this survey consolidates and categorizes the fundamental aspects of LLM datasets from five perspectives: (1) Pre-training Corpora; (2) Instruction Fine-tuning Datasets; (3) Preference Datasets; (4) Evaluation Datasets; (5) Traditional Natural Language Processing (NLP) Datasets. The survey sheds light on the prevailing challenges and points out potential avenues for future investigation. Additionally, a comprehensive review of the existing available dataset resources is also provided, including statistics from 444 datasets, covering 8 language categories and spanning 32 domains. Information from 20 dimensions is incorporated into the dataset statistics. The total data size surveyed surpasses 774.5 TB for pre-training corpora and 700M instances for other datasets. We aim to present the entire landscape of LLM text datasets, serving as a comprehensive reference for researchers in this field and contributing to future studies. Related resources are available at: https://github.com/lmmlzn/Awesome-LLMs-Datasets.
Deconstructing the Veneer of Simplicity: Co-Designing Introductory Generative AI Workshops with Local Entrepreneurs
Kotturi, Yasmine, Anderson, Angel, Ford, Glenn, Skirpan, Michael, Bigham, Jeffrey P.
Generative AI platforms and features are permeating many aspects of work. Entrepreneurs from lean economies in particular are well positioned to outsource tasks to generative AI given limited resources. In this paper, we work to address a growing disparity in use of these technologies by building on a four-year partnership with a local entrepreneurial hub dedicated to equity in tech and entrepreneurship. Together, we co-designed an interactive workshops series aimed to onboard local entrepreneurs to generative AI platforms. Alongside four community-driven and iterative workshops with entrepreneurs across five months, we conducted interviews with 15 local entrepreneurs and community providers. We detail the importance of communal and supportive exposure to generative AI tools for local entrepreneurs, scaffolding actionable use (and supporting non-use), demystifying generative AI technologies by Figure 1: We designed an introductory generative AI workshop emphasizing entrepreneurial power, while simultaneously deconstructing series with entrepreneurs and tech providers which centered the veneer of simplicity to address the many operational communal experience, supportive exposure, tangible skills needed for successful application.
Investigating the Robustness of Vision Transformers against Label Noise in Medical Image Classification
Khanal, Bidur, Shrestha, Prashant, Amgain, Sanskar, Khanal, Bishesh, Bhattarai, Binod, Linte, Cristian A.
Label noise in medical image classification datasets significantly hampers the training of supervised deep learning methods, undermining their generalizability. The test performance of a model tends to decrease as the label noise rate increases. Over recent years, several methods have been proposed to mitigate the impact of label noise in medical image classification and enhance the robustness of the model. Predominantly, these works have employed CNN-based architectures as the backbone of their classifiers for feature extraction. However, in recent years, Vision Transformer (ViT)-based backbones have replaced CNNs, demonstrating improved performance and a greater ability to learn more generalizable features, especially when the dataset is large. Nevertheless, no prior work has rigorously investigated how transformer-based backbones handle the impact of label noise in medical image classification. In this paper, we investigate the architectural robustness of ViT against label noise and compare it to that of CNNs. We use two medical image classification datasets -- COVID-DU-Ex, and NCT-CRC-HE-100K -- both corrupted by injecting label noise at various rates. Additionally, we show that pretraining is crucial for ensuring ViT's improved robustness against label noise in supervised training.