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The surge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun a significant series of questions worldwide: What will be taught in university classrooms in the future, and will education based on degrees be the same as it is today? AI is reshaping industries, workplaces and educational institutions à la mode. AI is revolutionising the way knowledge is generated, disseminated, and applied in automated writing support, virtual tutors, data analysis, and scientific research. Some people are concerned about the impact of AI on the future of traditional education, believing it will supersede the human element, but others contend that AI is a valuable tool that can support and augment human intelligence. The success of universities' adaptation to this technological revolution will be the key to the future of education.
The perception that AI is rendering human intelligence obsolete as machines can now undertake tasks that previously relied on human effort and time. A learner can get explanations in a matter of seconds, a researcher can arrange vast amounts of information in a short time, and a business can streamline repetitive tasks. These advancements might lead one to believe that artificial intelligence is supplanting human intelligence. This is not the complete picture, however.
While AI is strong, it is not intelligent like humans. It is capable of handling and processing information quickly and producing answers to patterns in the data. However, it has no emotions, no feelings, no moral perceptions, no understanding. Humans have the ability to think creatively, make tough ethical choices and deal with entirely new scenarios.
Indeed, AI is a creation of human intelligence. All AI systems are human made, human trained and human enhanced. All the knowledge that AI gives is based on information produced, gathered and organised by humans. Thus, it is important to understand that AI is not a threat to human workers but a tool created by humans for their benefit.
Like the calculator and the mathematician, AI and humans are not competing.AI and humans are like a calculator and a mathematician. A Calculator is faster at calculating but it cannot determine which problem to solve or why it is important for the solution to be found. Similarly, AI can deliver information, but it is in the hands of humans to determine what to do with it. The importance of human intelligence is not only to know facts but also to know meaning, context, consequences.
These technological changes are having a major impact on higher education. Universities have long been one of the main sources of knowledge. Students were taken to lectures in order to obtain information which had not been easily available. In today's digital age, information is at our fingertips, via digital platforms, search engines and AI. The change in this is an opportunity for the universities to reconsider the status quo of their traditional role.
The knowledge that is being taught in the schools of the future will not be so much knowledge to memorise as skills to acquire that cannot be duplicated by a machine. The importance of critical thinking, creativity, communication, leadership, collaboration and ethical reasoning are all on the rise. Rather than teaching the students what to think, universities will have to teach the students how to think.
Future graduates will also have to be proficient in working with AI. The ability to ask the right questions, appraise AI-generated information and spot errors could prove to be crucial skills for almost any job.
The other important tendency is the increase in the demand for interdisciplinary education. Issues like climate change, cyber security, global health and international security are among the modern problems that can't be addressed by a single discipline. Technology and social sciences, combined with business, ethics and public policy, may be the new trend at universities. Students will be required to have technical knowledge and understanding of people to solve complex problems in the world.
Even though alternative learning is increasing, traditional degrees are still valuable. Universities are more than just subject knowledge. They provide research, discussion, networking, mentorship and personal development opportunities. University education provides students with a sense of discipline and confidence, as well as intellectual maturity. It will introduce them to a variety of viewpoints and help them broaden their thinking beyond what is required for now.
Formal education is still a requirement in certain careers, such as medicine, legal fields, engineering and academics. In fast-paced fields, many companies are still willing to appreciate what university graduates have learned through years of study, such as their analytical and problem-solving skills. So, the traditional degrees will not vanish either. Rather, they will remain a work in progress.
A dilemma for universities is how to ensure responsible use of AI by students. Relying on AI-generated answers completely could make it harder for learners to think for themselves. Educators should inspire students to engage in critical thinking, source checking and the formulation of their own thoughts. AI is for learning, not learning with AI.
AI is also bringing with it ethical questions. Issues of privacy and bias, misinformation, and future of employment are becoming more pertinent. AI has its pros and cons and future leaders need to be aware of both.
Ultimately, AI and human intelligence are not competing against each other. They are for different purposes and have different strengths. While AI has the potential to enhance our efficiency and speed, it cannot replace human creativity, empathy, wisdom, and moral judgment.
Competition between man and machine will not be the key to the future of universities. Instead it will be a product of partnership between the two.
— The writer is a PhD scholar and a lecturer. She can be reached at: [email protected]
