On August 1-2, the Policy Studies Organization, along with the University’s Journal of Online Learning, Research, and Practice (JOLRAP) and the International Journal of Open Educational Resources (IJOER), co-hosted a virtual conference. This conference, called “AI – The Future of Education: Disruptive Learning and Teaching Models,” was dedicated to exploring technology’s disruptive, transformative and evolving role in higher education.
This AI conference featured interactive presentations and discussions. It also brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to discuss the sweeping impact of technology on society.
The AI conference featured thought-provoking presentations from a lineup of distinguished speakers, including:
- Nuno Fernandes, our University President
- Dr. Matthew Lease, a professor of information and computer science at the University of Texas in Austin
- Michael Jabbour, Microsoft Education’s Chief Innovation Officer
- Lori Glover, managing director of global partnerships and alliances for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL)
- U.S. Representative Jay Obernolte, the U.S. House of Representatives’ AI Task Force Chair (R-California).
These experts shared their thoughts on how technology is reshaping society, offering both exciting opportunities and critical challenges to address.
A Visionary Approach to Education: Insights from President Nuno Fernandes
President Fernandes kicked off the AI conference with a compelling vision of how technology can revolutionize education. Drawing on historical examples of past industrial disruptions, President Fernandes urged educational institutions to adapt or risk becoming obsolete.
“Remember Blockbuster? Just as they failed to adapt to the digital age, educational institutions must evolve or face antiquity,” he warned, sparking a lively response among attendees in the chat.
President Fernandes passionately advocated for using technology to create personalized and flexible learning experiences tailored to individual student needs. He mentioned that American Public University System (APUS) is providing a host of digital services to students, and more are slated for the future.
Screenshots from the presentation by President Fernandes. Images courtesy of Kelsey Hotaling.
Fernandes encouraged attendees to embrace AI, in the name of positive change. In contrast, he noted a time in the 1980s when some college professors organized protests because they were apprehensive about the new idea of allowing calculators in the classroom.
By harnessing these tools, educational institutions can offer more affordable and accessible education, addressing long-standing challenges in the industry. President Fernandes envisioned a future where technology enhances teaching methodologies and fosters lifelong learning, preparing students for a continuously evolving job market.
Hear more from President Fernandes: Predicting the Future: Will AI and Tech Innovation Revolutionize Higher Ed?
Innovation and Responsibility: Key Insights from Matthew Lease
Dr. Matthew Lease took the virtual stage after President Fernandes. He spoke on the fascinating world of AI and its responsible use. As the leader of UT Austin’s Good Systems initiative, Professor Lease is on a mission to develop responsible tech solutions that safeguard the information environment.
Dr. Lease emphasized the excitement around generative AI and its capabilities. He discussed the art of crafting prompts for generative AI, saying “Generative AI can do a lot of different things with just the right prompts, creating a sense of endless possibilities.”
A significant portion of his talk focused on the ethical challenges posed by AI. “We need to ensure that AI technologies embody values like transparency, trust, agency and equity,” he emphasized. Dr. Lease then presented examples of AI failures, underscoring the critical need for fairness, accountability and robust governance in AI development.
Dr. Lease concluded by emphasizing the need for diverse expertise in AI development and setting realistic expectations to avoid disillusionment. He called for proactive measures to anticipate and mitigate potential harms, ensuring AI’s benefits are maximized while minimizing risks.
Technology and Organizational Transformation: Dr. Michael Jabbour’s Presentation
Dr. Michael Jabbour brought a practical perspective on how technology is transforming industries and reshaping workforce dynamics. With over two decades of experience in development and healthcare, Dr. Jabbour is no stranger to the power of technology in driving productivity and creativity.
Dr. Jabbour projected that AI could automate 40-70% of current tasks, potentially displacing 80-100 million jobs while creating 70-80 million new ones. Also, Dr. Jabbour highlighted the urgent need for workforce upskilling, cross-skilling, and even down-skilling to adapt to these changes. He emphasized that organizations must prepare for this significant transformation by rethinking digital strategies and embracing AI’s potential.
Dr. Jabbour’s keynote illustrated how AI has evolved from merely searching for information to providing direct answers, using personal anecdotes about his children’s instinctual interactions and inherent expectations with AI tools like GPT and Alexa. This shift reflects broader societal changes, as future generations will expect seamless, conversational interactions with educational and medical systems.
Emphasizing the ethical element, Dr. Jabbour quoted a military saying, “Leaders have to be trained for certainty and educated for uncertainty,” underscoring that AI education should cover cultural understanding, ambiguity, and emotional intelligence. He noted the unique role of emotional prompts in AI, stating, “If you tell the AI to try harder, it actually will.” It points to the importance of developing AI that is not only technically proficient but also emotionally intelligent.
In closing, Dr. Jabbour urged organizations to focus on literacy, real-time data aggregation and impactful, low-cost AI applications. He left the audience with a vision of AI as a powerful tool for enhancing education and healthcare, encouraging proactive engagement with AI’s potential and challenges.
Ethical and Environmental Considerations: Lori Glover’s Insights
Dr. Linda Ashar kicked off day two by introducing the next keynote speaker, Lori Glover, J.D., the managing director of MIT’s CSAIL. MIT’s CSAIL is one of the world’s largest and most prominent research laboratories dedicated to AI. Glover’s keynote speech, “AI in Academia: Promise and Pitfalls,” addressed AI’s impact in education and its broader implications.
Glover discussed AI’s components, rapid advancements and potential to improve education systems. She highlighted AI’s strengths in data processing, pattern recognition and automation. “AI can process data faster and more efficiently than humans can,” she noted, emphasizing its role in areas like bank fraud detection and drug discovery.
Glover also stressed the importance of maintaining and updating AI models, warning that outdated models can fail, as seen with Google’s flu outbreak prediction system. She also addressed ethical concerns, including privacy, security and bias, presenting examples of AI-generated “hallucinations” where systems create false information.
Glover emphasized the opportunities AI offers for personalized learning and efficient administration, while cautioning against misuse, such as AI-generated content being passed off as student work. She stressed the need to teach uniquely human skills like critical thinking and empathy.
“Students are going to be using AI tools in the classroom. It’s a good thing because they’re going to be using it in the workforce,” she explained.
Glover, wrapping up her presentation, advocated for integrating AI tools in education to enhance learning and efficiency, ensuring broad access to AI technologies for inclusivity and equitable opportunities. “It’s not human versus AI, it’s human plus AI,” she stated, highlighting the potential for collaboration between humans and AI to achieve greater outcomes.
Governance and Policy: Special Guest Speaker U.S. Representative Jay Obernolte’s Discussion
The House AI Task Force Chair, Representative Jay Obernolte, a passionate advocate for technology, shared his insights on the intersection of tech and governance. Drawing from his background in research, video game development and business, Representative Obernolte emphasized the role of government in regulating technological advancements. He was named Chair of the bipartisan task force in February 2024.
Also, the Congressman discussed the necessity for a balanced regulatory approach that fosters innovation while ensuring consumer protection. In addition, he underscored the potential of technology to enhance productivity and economic growth, noting its big impact on education and the workforce.
Embracing Technology’s Transformative Potential
This AI conference zeroed in on the profound impact of technology across education, industry, and governance. From the visionary insights on education from President Fernandes to the practical perspectives shared by Dr. Lease, Jabbour, Glover and Representative Obernolte, it’s clear that technology is reshaping our society in significant ways.
As the use of AI technology expands, collaboration among educators, policymakers and industry leaders is essential to leverage its potential responsibly. By embracing these advancements and addressing their challenges, we can create a future where technology enhances human experiences, fosters innovation, and drives societal progress.
A Special Thanks to the AI Conference Organizers
A special thanks is extended to the AI conference organizers – Dr. Kathleen Tate, Dr. Linda Ashar and Dr. Ronald Johnson – for putting together such a comprehensive and insightful conference.
Dr. Kathleen Tate is the Department Chair of Teaching in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Education and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Online Learning Research and Practice. Dr. Linda Ashar is an associate professor with the Dr. Wallace E. Boston School of Business and co-editor of The International Journal of Online Research and Practice. Dr. Ronald Johnson is a professor with the Dr. Wallace E. Boston School of Business and co-editor of The International Journal of Open Educational Resources.
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