CAiRS webinar - System Safety Verification and Validation for AI Systems

The webinar named “System Safety Verification and Validation for AI Systems” was organized by Centre for Advances in Reliability and Safety (CAiRS) on 4^th Aug 2021.  System Safety is a complex process because it involves an integration system of different systems to integrate their behaviors and misbehaviors. Therefore, System Verification and Validation of AI systems become the major challenge.  Dr Dev Raheja (Adjunct Professor (Reliability Engineering) at the University of Maryland, Mechanical Engineering Department) was the guest speaker.

Firstly, he gave an overview that system safety is a specialty within system engineering that supports program risk management. Its goal is to optimize safety by the identification of safety related risks, eliminating or controlling them by design, etc. Then he explained traditional verification and validation model.

Then Dr. Dev Raheja briefed risk definition, risk management and big risks as well as high level safety.  Big risks related to the Time-To-Market but danger if unknown hazard in the product. (That let me remember Samsung Note 7 case!)

After that Dr. Raheja said system reliability is the most important component of system safety for AI system and almost all accidents result from poor reliability. He introduced four types of AI and they are Reactive Machines, Limited Memory, Theory of Mind and Self-Aware.

Reactive Machines perform basic operations. This is the first stage of any AI system. A machine learning that takes a human face as input and outputs a box around the face to identify it as a face is simple, reactive machine. (No Input, No Learning!)

Limited memory types refer to an AI’s ability to store previous data and/or predictions, using that data to make better prediction. Every machine learning model requires limited memory to be created, but the model can get deployed as a reactive machine type.

Theory of Mind AI is only beginning phases such as self-driving cars. In this type of AI, it begins to interact with the thoughts and emotions of humans.

Self-aware AI exists only in story that beyond the human has an independent intelligence.

Finally, Dr. Raheja said we need robust specification but at least 60% requirements missed in most specifications. He also said we need several Hazard Analysis tools and Accelerated Life Test (e.g. HALT, S-N diagram).

Lastly he pointed out the secret of success that is to make top management responsible safety and reliability, conducting frequent training and workshop as well as involved in audits with them. He also suggested to get independent consultants and auditors in evaluating the effectiveness of the system of systems.

Reference:

CAiRS - https://www.cairs.hk/view/index.php

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