Professor Michael Small is the Director of the UWA Data Institute where he researches the development of modern mathematical techniques and data science innovations to solve real world problems – from engineering and resource challenges, to modelling the spread of disease, to predicting and assessing mental health risks.

As AI and machine learning tools become more ingrained in our everyday lives, Professor Small, who is also the CSIRO-UWA Chair in Complex Systems, is working to better understand how the tools we increasingly rely upon to inform our decisions actually work – and to identify the potential flaws in their processes – be they ethical or system based.

Image: Professor Michael Small

Talking to Research on the Record Professor Small explains how his work to identify patterns using deep learning has already had a positive impact in the health system – and why Artificial Intelligence isn’t really intelligent.

He explains how his time as a PhD student monitoring infants to collect data about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) inspired him to apply his mathematical knowledge to help improve people’s lives.

He also provides crucial advice to anyone using these powerful tools – and an important reminder about our own think processes.