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University of Cambridge

On Performance and Trustworthiness of AI: from inverse problems to Artificial General Intelligence

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful problem-solving tool, both in the mathematical field of inverse problems and, more recently, in broader applications with the advent of modern chatbots. However, AI systems have repeatedly been shown to be prone to producing hallucinations, plausible yet false solutions that could be mistaken for correct answers. This vulnerability undermines trust in AI systems, and thus an examination of the trustworthiness of AI is urgently needed. This thesis investigates the concept of trust in AI, examining its performance, stability, verifiability, and explainability. Starting with an in-depth assessment of the best performance achievable by an AI for inverse problems, the analysis of trustworthy AI culminates in the Consistent Reasoning Paradox. This paradox shows the intricacy involved in creating an artificial general intelligence capable of human-like behaviour - the goal modern chatbots aim to achieve. The resolution to the paradox lies in providing AI with the ability to confess `I don't know' when relevant, and thus the concept of an `I don't know' function is introduced as a necessary tool to develop reliable and trustworthy AI systems.

Degree

thesis:*
Name dc:type.qualificationname
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
Doctoral
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
University of Cambridge
Year dc:date.issued
2024

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Campodonico, Paolo
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Hansen, Anders

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

dc:rights
Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
DOI dc:identifier.doi
https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.116963
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/381957

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Cambridge University
Base URL
api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Campodonico, Paolo. On Performance and Trustworthiness of AI: from inverse problems to Artificial General Intelligence. Doctoral thesis, University of Cambridge, 2024. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.116963