Maria Virvou - Advances in Artificial Intelligence-based Technologies: Selected Papers in Honour of Professor Nikolaos G. Bourbakis―Vol. 1: 22

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the science that studies the evolution and behavior of intelligent systems.

The central goal of Artificial Intelligence is not only to integrate intelligence into computers, but rather to turn computers into more useful machines. The scientific field of Artificial Intelligence is neither new nor easy to outline and define. It can be found in the connection of many concepts, such as perception, knowledge, logic, and processes (learning, decision, planning, etc.) in an attempt to understand the principles and theories that allow intelligence and their transformation into algorithmic processes. As an interdisciplinary academic field, it has appeared as early as 1950 [1,2]. Since then, its evolution has not been linear, as it has often relied on and expanded upon many and diverse other disciplines, including optimization theory and practice, decision-making, mathematical theories of fuzzy logic and statistics, neurobiology and paradigms of biological intelligence, psychology, cognition, pedagogical theories, and philosophy. In its course through the past six decades, Artificial Intelligence has met with success but also disappointment due to misconception of its complexity and the high expectations of users and industry [24]. While in many cases Artificial Intelligence achieves a performance significantly superior to that of humans, especially in the association of multiple data sets and mining, its advances still place technology very far away from building machines with the capacity to understand or learn any intellectual task that a human being can and even further away from building machines that can experience consciousness and emotionality [2].

Recently, the entire field of Artificial Intelligence is pressed toward further research and development following important and evolving new technological advancements in big data, mobile software applications and smartphones, Internet of Things, Computer Vision, business, manufacturing, and applications in essentially all sorts of human activities and professions. Because of the enormous pace of growth in new theories and application areas and high rates of success, Artificial Intelligence-based Technologies are already having a major impact on the society itself and affect positively our daily lives [36]. Undoubtedly, an impact of this magnitude also includes risks and threats in security, privacy, safety, transparency, business, competition, the job market, fundamental rights, democracy, or even human existence itself [710]. Artificial Intelligence-based Technologies need to be developed under careful human supervision and by highly qualified scientists who understand the associated risks and threats.

Professor Nikolaos G. Bourbakis certainly qualifies as a world-outstanding researcher in various fields of Artificial Intelligence which he has been serving from various posts for almost fifty years now. Holding a B.S. degree in Mathematics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, a Certificate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Patras, Greece, and a Ph.D. degree in Computer Engineering and Informatics (awarded with excellence) from the Department of Computer Engineering & Informatics, University of Patras, Greece, he is currently a Distinguished Professor of Information & Technology and the Director of the Center of Assistive Research Technologies (CART) at Wright State University, Ohio, USA. For his many achievements in Artificial Intelligence-based Technologies, he has received many distinctions and awards, including elevation to IEEE Fellow (1996); IEEE Computer Society Technical Research Achievement Award; Member of the New York Academy of Sciences; Diploma of Honor in Artificial Intelligence, School of Engineering, University of Patras, Greece; ASC Outstanding Scientists & Engineers Research Award; Dr. F. Russ IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award, Dayton Ohio; Recognition Award for Outstanding Scholarly Achievements and Contributions in the field of Computer Science, University of Piraeus, Greece; IEEE EMBS-GR Award of Achievements; IEEE Computer Society 30 years ICTAI Outstanding Service & Leadership Recognition; Honorary Doctorate Degree of the University of Piraeus, Greece (2020).