Exploring the Future
Welcome to the first official episode of the “AI Academics Podcast.” I'm Dr. Lennart Nacke, your host, joined by my co-host, Vugar Ibrahimov. We explore the latest AI advancements, all while keeping it relatable and practical for our academic audience. Grab a coffee, sit back, and let's explore why AI is more than just a job-stealing monster.
What is this podcast thing anyway?
We decided to run our show simultaneously on YouTube, LinkedIn, and X as a livestream on Wednesdays at 11 AM Eastern Time for now. We’ve done this for a few months as a space on X, but now we are trying out this new format. It's been almost a year of chatting about AI developments. Our new venture is delivering these insights across different platforms. Fingers crossed, everything works smoothly!
Vugar and I have been teaching a webinar on using AI research tools for academics. But we've also spent countless hours just talking about the latest changes in AI on social media. And this first episode of our podcast is no different. Here are the topics we covered in this episode:
Apple Intelligence: What’s different?
One hot topic this week was Apple's big announcement on Apple Intelligence. They love to put their spin on things. Remember when they rebranded VR as Spatial Computing? Now, they've taken their shot at AI. They call it Apple Intelligence instead of just Artificial Intelligence. And it’s personal.
Apple's been coy about joining the AI race. Not like Microsoft and Google. They were full steam ahead. Apple clearly now rebrands AI a bit, with a focus on privacy and security. But as with any data transmission, once it leaves your device, there's always a risk. There is no perfect solution here.
The new features Apple announced are exciting. Imagine everything happening locally on your device—notes, calculations, and more—thanks to their advanced AI. But there's always a trade-off with privacy concerns when these tasks might require the computing power of a data centre.
AI and Education
Of course, we also have to talk about AI in education. More and more teachers are using AI tools like GitHub Copilot to teach coding. These tools make learning code a breeze, like having an expert programmer guide you.
Yet, this also raises concerns about students’ critical thinking skills. It’s easy to rely too much on AI for quick summaries and answers. But real learning requires deep reading and understanding. Students must recognize that AI should be an assistant, not a replacement for their thinking.
I recently shared tips on reading research papers thoroughly and creatively. AI tools can help organize and summarize, but they can't replace the critical analysis process. The fear is that students might bypass this essential part of learning, which is dangerous.
The Critical Skill: Asking Better Questions
In academics, knowing how to ask the right questions is a powerful skill. Good prompts lead to better AI assistance, whether you're coding or writing. It’s vital to understand your tasks and effectively delegate parts of them to AI, only where it makes a practical difference.
AI’s Energy Footprint
At a recent CHI conference, a keynote addressed AI’s hidden costs. Massive server farms running AI models consume a lot of energy. For example, generating one DALL-E image uses power equivalent to charging an iPhone fully. It's a reminder that while AI is powerful, it also has an environmental impact we can’t ignore.
What is AI Integrity?
Working in law, Vugar also shared his experience with AI. While AI tools help brainstorm and structure ideas, they cannot replace the rigour needed in academic research. AI-generated texts can never be copied blindly; their role should be as an assistant, refining and polishing work that's fundamentally our own.
As AI gets better, do we need coding skills?
Despite AI's growing abilities, coding is still a valuable skill. Even in fields like law, understanding how to code can help you better leverage AI. Knowing the basics allows you to refine AI-generated code, ensuring it meets your precise needs.
Integrity and Ownership
It's crucial for researchers and students to understand that, while AI can assist, it cannot claim ownership. Your work must reflect your voice and critical thought. Blindly relying on AI undermines the very essence of academic integrity.
So, how do we embrace AI smartly?
It’s a tough question. AI has immense potential but comes with responsibilities. Understand which tasks AI can handle. Never forget its limitations. Keep your critical thinking sharp. Use AI to enhance your work. Always maintain your ethical standards. Embrace AI as the powerful tool it is, but remember that the real power lies in how you wield it.
We hope you enjoyed this discussion of the latest AI developments.
Join us again next week, Wednesday at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, as we continue to explore the intersection of AI and academics. Until then, stay curious and keep learning.
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