No need to be scared of Artificial Intelligence that it will snatch jobs, but the challenge is to master AI and make it work for you efficiently

Experts from the field of cutting-edge technologies are of the view that Artificial Intelligence, which is shaping tomorrow’s education, can profoundly change the way the world operates and improve efficiencies if necessary skills upgradation is achieved that can leverage the ingenuity of AI.

Technology professionals who congregated at the two-day National level Conference on AI-Enhanced Learning: Shaping Tomorrow’s Education Landscape on Friday deliberated on the various facets of AI and its impact on jobs and employment. Addressing the gathering at the Conference organized by JAIN (Deemed-to-be-University), Cecil Sunder, Director of Microsoft and Board Member of AI Transformation Leader said that AI would not replace anyone, but the new technology required people to be skilled enough to handle it.

The Conference aims to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and make everyone understand how to use AI more effectively.

“I’ve been at the forefront of this technology, since its inception. From my perspective, it will profoundly change the way we operate in the world. AI is not going to replace anyone; however, we need to upskill and upgrade ourselves to leverage the ingenuity of AI,” Cecil Sunder said. He further stressed the resourcefulness of utilizing AI in the education sector. He added, “We can aggregate the best content in the world, from everywhere, and it will be at the student’s fingertips.”

Addressing the gathering, Dr Raj Singh, Vice Chancellor, JAIN (Deemed-to-be-University), emphasized,  “Teachers have been empowered by AI. AI has made it possible to provide customized education programs and accessibility to the best content for each student.” Further, he exclaimed, “We never thought intelligence could be artificial.”

Later in an exclusive interview with Dr. Anubha Jain, the Vice Chancellor talked about the advantages of AI in education and said, “AI today is entering into every other discipline. Everybody will need AI tools. A few challenges we have been facing for ages. Education is outcome-based, so we must think about what outcome it will lead to and work backward. Until now we are not in a position to do certain things we were incapable of doing. We could not meet those outcomes. Artificial Intelligence and its use will help certain goals to be achieved in a better way. We can now explore what is best available in that arena through AI. Augment and virtual realities can be explored by our students sitting in the classrooms. Based on students’ learning behaviour, any pattern slows or fast, AI Suggests what kind of content is best suited to the student to learn better. And unless mastery in that AI doesn’t promote the student to the next level. These sorts of benefits are there. Teachers too understand the behaviour and pattern of each student in a class and can form strategies to deal with that situation.”

Dr Raj Singh further said that in academic institutions, LinkedIn modules are built into teaching-learning plans. Between June 2023 to April 2024 about 49k licenses were activated and students are using it. We prescribed an average of seven videos to be watched, but they watched 43 such videos 6-7 times. This can’t be achieved through a manual system. LinkedIn AI Tools suggest which video is suitable or maybe liked by a person. Through such AI-based technology, one can attain higher learning and learn more that wasn’t possible in a classroom setting, he said.

When Dr. Anubha asked about the AI Tools being used in the university, Dr. Singh said, “Coursera developed a course builder using AI. Our university is using this tool. It gives a base syllabus that can be tweaked. It saves months of effort, can go further and add value to it. It is also used in the examination assessment and students’ placement process. Strongly based on AI, he said we are developing an ERP. It can be helpful in the admission process, administration purposes, course designing, strategizing new programs to be offered, skill set requirements, and better fee payment patterns can be designed.”

Discussing a few disadvantages Dr. Singh emphasized that with pros, the AI technology has its downside also. From Data breaches or data theft, a lot of governance is required.

Discussing the future of AI with Dr. Anubha, Dr. Singh said that in this era of AI-based modules, faculties engage in higher levels of learning outcomes, and creation activities which in traditional systems were not possible.  So as a University, the challenge is to sustain our level with the changing environment, the compulsion of the National Education Policy, and the world putting their efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals or the United Nations Agenda 2030. Academic institutions have a great responsibility to contribute. Involving students in creation can greatly contribute to the innovation system of the country and the world. AI allows being more innovative, helping faculty members to prioritize significant work. In the end, he said, “Emphasizing more projects or field-based learning with less theory will make students get engaged more in the creative process. Teachers too can devote their time to more research-oriented work,” the Vice Chancellor said.

Raman Pushkar, Vice President, Data and Digital, Standard Chartered India as the keynote speaker of the conference underscored the importance of implementing the use of Generative AI in the education sector. He said that generating AI isn’t a technological marvel, but it is a catalyst for a revolution in the Education World. He said, “Hyundai factory in Chennai is using almost 450 robots. The labourers are not impacted, it’s a misconception. The staff is now more advanced, creative, and using that machinery for the right production. Not only one but in all the industries these advancements are happening.” He further said that the market growth of AI is almost 40 thousand million dollars in business in the next 3 years. AI will replace mundane jobs. People should embrace these changes.

Vibha Mishra, Global Learning and Development Lead, Industry Specific Skills, Tietoevery Create, highlighted the efficiency of AI and said that AI can simplify the process of completing the task. Also, she reiterated on job security by emphasizing that AI is not a threat to employment, rather, the real risk lies in not adapting to AI advancements. She concluded by stating, “If you don’t change with the change, the change is going to change you.”

Dr. Jitendra Mishra, Registrar, and Dr. Dinesh Nilkant, Pro-Vice Chancellor of JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) also addressed the gathering. Dr. Varalakshmi S, Conference Convener, rendered a vote of thanks and justified, “We continue to innovate in shaping the future of AI in education. Today, we are paving the way for a more inclusive educational landscape.”