Dear All,
Reference: Making a Case for Research Collaborations Between Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research Experts
As I have posted earlier in the past few years, INFORMS has collaborated with the Computing Community Consortium (CCC), and ACM SIGAI since 2021 to sponsor a series of AI/OR workshops. This workshop series was one of the key activities envisioned as part of the INFORMS AI Initiative articulated in the white paper and the keynote at the 2019 Annual Meeting presented by 2019 President Ramayya Krishnan and Pascal Van Hentenryck. This initiative recognizes the significant progress made in Artificial Intelligence research in recent years, especially in areas such as machine learning and generative AI. However, it also notes the advances in optimization and decision-making made within AI, areas where the deep expertise of Operations Research is invaluable. Recognizing the complementary strengths of these two fields and the potential for significant societal impact through their synergy, the workshop series aimed to bridge this gap. A primary goal of the workshops has been to provide a space for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Operations Research (OR) communities to discuss a joint strategic vision for a strong and sustained collaboration between the two fields.
Following the third workshop, the final report, Making a Case for Research Collaborations Between Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research Experts, outlines recommendations from all three workshops. These recommendations target all stakeholders engaged in AI and OR research, including funding organizations, research institutions, conferences, non-profits, and researchers themselves. Read these key recommendations in the Strengthening AI and OR Collaboration Key Recommendations one-pager.
For more details about this series, please read the CCC blog which includes comments from some of the early proponents of the AI initiative.
I welcome comments from INFORMS members on these recommendations as well as other perspectives that are important for us to consider for advancing the vision of our professional community with regard to AI.
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Radhika Kulkarni
VP, Advanced Analytics R&D (retired), SAS Institute Inc.
2022 INFORMS President
Durham NC
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