AI and Logic and Ontology
What actually exists? How do computers think about reality? Where does the meaning of a word come from, and how do computers learn to understand it? Do computers really “understand” language at all?
If you love thinking about deep philosophical questions, and you want to use AI in practical ways to help society, then let’s talk about ontologies—maps of reality that show what kinds of things exist and how they’re connected to each other. These maps help AI systems reason more effectively and provide more accurate outputs, and UB is the top university in the country for researching AI and applied ontology. So if you want to use logic and ontology to get more out of AI, keep reading about this unique program.
What will I learn?
The first year or two, you’ll mostly take classes that teach you about AI technology and how it impacts society. You’ll learn about the statistical properties of data, how machine learning works, how AI can reinforce existing biases, and the ethical issues surrounding AI in various contexts. As you advance, you’ll take more in-depth courses about topics like symbolic reasoning, formal logic, the theory of knowledge (epistemology), and how to apply ontologies (ways to understand and categorize things) using computing-based methods. The program culminates with an internship, as well as a capstone course involving a real-world challenge for you and your team to solve.
UB: A Leader in AI
- Home to Empire AI, a statewide hub for addressing societal challenges through AI.
- Home to National AI Institute funded by the National Science Foundation.
- More than 400 researchers involved with AI.
- Multiple institutes and centers focused on AI applications.
- Other degree programs like this one create a community of students focused on the study of AI for the social good.
What can I do with an AI and Logic and Ontology degree?
Employers like hiring graduates who can form logical arguments, think critically, and organize huge volumes of data in an increasingly complex world. And with UB’s national reputation for applied ontology and AI, you’ll be more likely to find even more opportunities, such as:
- Improving knowledge graphs for the world’s most popular search engines.
- Building medical ontologies for faster drug discovery.
- Creating threat assessments for defense applications.
- Developing new legal models based on formal logic.
Whether you choose to go to graduate school or not, potential career paths include:
- AI reasoning expert.
- Data management specialist.
- Formal methods consultant.
- Information architect.
- Intelligence analyst.
- Ontology engineer.
- Semantic consultant.