Artificial Intelligence Today

Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere today. It provides summary results for our Internet searches. It offers to improve our emails. It provides recommendations for books and movies and TV shows we might like. But what is AI? And, in particular, what is generative AI? In this presentation, Dr. Cathie LeBlanc will explore the history of AI, the different types of AI, how AI works, and why it seems to be everywhere at the moment. She will also discuss the pros and cons of AI use in a variety of contexts.

Cathie LeBlanc is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Florida State University with a BA, MS, and PhD in computer science. Her first encounter with artificial intelligence came in 1984 at Dartmouth, the birthplace of AI. Her graduate work focused on developing AI tools for use in molecular biology applications. She taught computer science, digital media, and game design at Plymouth State University for 28 years before retiring in January, 2026. She lives in Campton, NH, with her cat, RBG.