The annual conference of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) took place in Chicago, focusing on the challenges faced by higher education institutions. Experts at the conference shared strategies to help these institutions navigate a world increasingly dominated by automation. As emerging technologies threaten the role of higher education, administrators and instructors are exploring ways to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into the curriculum.
Daniel Susskind, an economics professor at King’s College London and author of several books on the impact of technology on work, discussed the influence of AI on higher education. He emphasized that AI models like ChatGPT are already present and will disrupt executive and professional work. Susskind predicted that this disruption will have a ripple effect on colleges, which have traditionally served as a training ground for white-collar workers.
During his keynote session at the HLC conference, Susskind highlighted the progress made in fields such as medical diagnostics, as well as the impact of automation on industries like agriculture and manufacturing. While automation has led to significant production gains, it has also resulted in a decrease in job opportunities. Susskind argued that AI has the potential to replicate many white-collar tasks, such as those in architecture, medicine, law, and accounting.
Susskind criticized the AI fallacy, which stems from the misconception that tasks can only be performed at a human level by copying or replicating human capabilities. According to him, this misconception hinders our understanding of AI’s true potential.
AI is now encroaching on tasks that were once believed to be exclusive to individuals with higher education training. The computing power and analytical capabilities of AI have made it possible for these technologies to surpass what was previously considered their limit. Susskind referred to this as the domain of white-collar work.
Susskind suggested that education and training are the key solutions to adapt to these emerging changes. By preparing individuals for tasks that AI models are currently unable to perform, such as judgment, empathy, and interpersonal communication, higher education institutions can stay relevant. Susskind emphasized the importance of colleges training individuals to develop AI systems that can take on more human activities.
Many higher education professionals are relying on AI’s capabilities to drive the sector’s transition. Panels at the conference focused on this topic, exploring the opportunities, threats, and promises that AI offers. Meredith Critchfield, the dean of Grand Canyon College of Education, expressed the belief that regardless of how our perspective on AI may change over time, the core values of educational institutions will remain unchanged.
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