Artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to revolutionize various aspects of our lives in recent years. From how we communicate to how we create, AI is there. Yet, the full potential of this technology is yet to be discovered. Further research is crucial.
If you’re in the field of AI research and engineering, computer and information research, or data science, your work could literally change the world. Sharing your findings is a vital part of that process.
How can you share your research with the world? Below, we’ll discuss tried and true channels such as scientific journals, preprints, open-source resources, live and recorded events, and social media. Tip: don’t forget to list these publications on your resume and other professional profiles!
Then, we’ll take a moment to consider why such sharing is important and how to overcome people’s concerns and other barriers.
How People Learn About AI Research
A recent survey sponsored by SnapLogic noted that almost half of workers felt that generative AI could save them time at work, but a third are not currently using it in any form. The bottom line is that people can’t utilize what they don’t know about. You can help spread the word through the following means.
Peer Review Journals
Scientific and peer-reviewed journals are the most trusted sources for detailed and accurate information. Articles in these journals reach a global audience of your fellow scientists and researchers. Due to the rigorous review process, the public can feel confident that the information is not biased or concealing an ulterior motive, such as commercial gain.
Some of the top peer-review journals accepting submissions on AI research include the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research (JAIR), Artificial Intelligence Journal (AIJ), Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR AI), and AI.
Preprints and Research Gateways
If you feel the need to get your research in people’s hands faster than the peer review process allows, you can publish a preprint of your paper—a final draft that is shared with the public before it has been peer-reviewed.
If your research is associated with a specific organization—a software development company, for example—you might opt to use a research gateway. These online portals are hubs for all research associated with that organization, available to scholarly societies, institutions, stakeholders such as funders, or interested online communities.
And of course, there are also other publications and magazines that you can reach out to even though they are not peer-review journals.
Open-Source (News - Alert) and Online Repositories
Another way to share your findings is through code sharing and open-source software. You can allow others access to modify and build upon the tools you have created.
Similarly, you can create publicly available data sets and use online repositories to make them available. Not only can people learn from your research, but they can verify and reproduce your results.
Videos and Events
To many non-professional users, AI technologies have a cold, mechanical face. While this is largely the result of science fiction, putting a human face on your research can go a long way to helping people accept and even embrace the technology.
You can speak at live events, including conferences and seminars. Consider speaking to classes of students or candidates at job fairs.
Some of these events may be recorded and made available on YouTube (News - Alert). This provides easy public access to your presentation—as does social media, which we will discuss next.
Social Media
YouTube videos represent one aspect of social media, but there are many others. YouTube Shorts and Instagram reels break videos down into bite-sized, easily digestible chunks that may be more palatable to the general public.
The casual nature of social media also means that you can present your research in a fun and friendly way. Will you dress up in a lab coat like Bill Nye the Science Guy? Will you enlist a fictional robot counterpart or a puppet friend? Or will you simply offer a window into what a day in the lab or office is really like? Any of these methods will help you reach new audiences with your research and connect with them on a personal level.
Why Sharing Research Is Important
Is sharing your research that important? Those who really need the information will seek it out, won’t they?
That is true to an extent, but actively making information available has a score of benefits. Many members of the public are skeptical of AI technology and afraid of its misuse. Open communication can build trust in and even excitement around the technology.
Additionally, the democratization of knowledge empowers people from diverse backgrounds to learn about and contribute to the growth of AI. Innovation is accelerated when researchers can build upon one another’s work. Collaboration results in a “cross-pollination” of ideas that can lead to novel applications.
AI and its uses will continue to evolve, with each change affecting humanity in profound ways, whether small or large. When you make your research available through peer review and open-source channels and you engage with consumers, trust and excitement surrounding AI will grow, and a new, diverse pool of talent can emerge.
