ASU Graduate Innovates with AI in Entomology
Kacy Hatfield, a graduating Master of Science student in media arts and sciences from Arizona State University’s School of Arts, Media and Engineering, has been honored as Herberger Institute’s Outstanding Graduating Student for fall 2024. Throughout her academic journey, Hatfield explored the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in ethical, biological, and computational realms.
Under the guidance of her advisors, Professor Pavan Turaga and Associate Professor Theodore Pavlic, Hatfield embarked on a project that involved intricate AI coding and pattern recognition to analyze the behavior of wasps, known for their complex social structures and ability to recognize individual members within their colonies.
Hatfield described her journey into research: ‘When I first began, I was relatively new to Python, and coding felt like this massive uphill battle. The first few months were almost entirely filled with failure. I learned a little more with every attempt, and eventually, things started to click.’
The core of her research utilized deepfake technology to simulate interactions among wasps, allowing her to observe how these insects responded to various visual cues in their social recognition processes. By altering markings on wasps’ bodies, she enabled Professor Elizabeth Tibbetts to conduct tests on the limits of the wasps’ individual recognition abilities.
‘These wasps are fascinating because they behave in ways that are social. They recognize each other’s faces and form hierarchical relationships based on past encounters. By experimenting with deepfakes, we’re learning what makes a face memorable in the animal kingdom,’ Hatfield explained.
Hatfield acknowledged the ethical considerations of applying deepfake technology in biological research: ‘Deepfake technology is often associated with negative impacts, so using it in a positive, controlled manner is really exciting to me. It requires a lot of trial, error, and ethical discussions.’
Reflecting on her experiences, Hatfield expressed her gratitude for the learning process involved in AI research: ‘AI research is a long process of quick failures. I’ve learned that the biggest breakthroughs often stem from these small failures.’
Following her research, Hatfield presented her findings at the prestigious Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), demonstrating the implications of her research on animal behavior and social recognition.
Hatfield’s Future Aspirations
Her time at ASU serves as a testament to resilience and curiosity, and she plans to continue her research in a PhD program at ASU’s School of Arts, Media and Engineering.
Q&A with Kacy Hatfield
Below are some insights from Hatfield regarding her educational journey:
What was your “aha” moment in your studies?
‘My aha moment was at a CVPR conference, where I presented my research on deepfaking wasps. It solidified my desire to engage more in computer vision.’
What’s a key lesson you learned at ASU?
‘I learned that progress isn’t linear. Celebrating failures is pivotal in research. They provide as much insight as successes.’
What’s next after graduation?
‘I’ve secured an internship with NASA Goddard, focusing on computer vision applications for detecting Martian dust devils.’
Hatfield’s innovative research and commitment to ethical AI applications are set to inspire future advancements in the field of entomology.
