Is the education system in trouble?

🗞️ The Tech Issue | September 15, 2023

Author

Qamar Zia
September 15, 2023

⁉️ The academic world is buzzing, and not in the usual, scholarly way. Corey Robin and Daniel Stanford represent two sides of a heated debate: the role of AI in education. Stanford notes that AI has intensified conversations around academic integrity to a degree he's never seen before. Faculty divisions aren't just quaint disagreements; they echo deep-rooted evolutionary psychology. While some welcome the disruption AI brings, warning bells are going off for others, raising questions about the future of education and whether we're valuing human connection enough in this tech-driven landscape.

🗞️ Today’s Highlights:

  • LATEST NEWS & TRENDS — The global race to set the rules for AI

  • INDUSTRY | FUNCTION — GenAI augmenting digital procurement tools

  • RESOURCES — Why You Should Absolutely Learn Pytorch in 2023: A Comprehensive Guide

  • WORK — ChatGPT and the future of work

  • AI TOOLS — OpenRead: Experience the future with AI-powered interactive papers

  • CHARTS — Breaking Down Deloitte’s “Generative AI Dossier”

🗞️ LATEST NEWS & TRENDS

1️⃣ Top experts, and CEOs, from powerhouses like OpenAI to Google’s DeepMind, warn that AI's existential threat to humanity should share the global priority stage with pandemics and nuclear war. Driven by generative AI's promise and peril, the industry is in a regulatory labyrinth as governments worldwide diverge on control measures. The EU’s stringent AI Act contrasts with the more lax US and UK stances. As generative AI's impacts know no borders, calls for unified regulation grow more urgent, especially given the technology’s ability to displace even high-skill jobs.

Reference: Financial Times (The global race to set the rules for AI)

2️⃣ As CEOs navigate the adoption of generative AI, they find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. Investing astutely could lead to an unparalleled strategic edge, while missteps risk legal and ethical quagmires. While feeling the heat from investors to accelerate, executives face the additional challenge of scant organization-wide approaches to this tech. Success hinges on a meticulous blend of vision, strategy, and risk management, encouraging CEOs to think anew about their operational models. A cautious but swift approach is the mantra here, as generative AI promises to transform the very fabric of enterprise.

3️⃣ GenAI is commonly pigeonholed into content creation roles—copywriting, image-making, and data table filling. But, as Amazon's Applied Scientist Alex Long notes, the real potential of 'generative' lies in its scientific core, capturing underlying probability distributions for a more comprehensive task range. Industry insiders see this as more than just a content-generating machine; it's a step-change in AI capabilities. Beyond language and image, expect these algorithms to advance fields like robotics and drug design, potentially catalyzing a cycle of AI adoption and business innovation.

4️⃣ As the hospitality sector remains understaffed, AI emerges as a compelling solution and a challenge. While robotic waiters and AI-powered customer service may promise efficiency, they ignite concerns about job loss among already underpaid workers. Industry expert Kaysilyn Lawson argues that AI doesn't replace but reallocates human jobs, facilitating better, less strenuous roles. The technology also helps businesses adapt dynamically to market trends. However, the adoption is not just about the bottom lines; it's a complex dialogue between efficiency, human labor, and ethical considerations.

5️⃣ AI is swiftly emerging as the unsung hero in modern scientific breakthroughs, transcending its traditional playgrounds like particle physics. MIT's discovery of new antibiotics like halicin and abaucin exemplifies AI as a vanguard in drug discovery. It's not just about sifting through data but revolutionizing the types of questions we ask. From AlphaFold's revelations in protein structures to fast-paced climate modeling, AI is augmenting human capacity, opening up new vistas in our pursuit of knowledge. And it's not just for the Ph.D.s anymore—thanks to democratization, even ChatGPT gets to join the scientific dialogue.

🗞️ INDUSTRY | FUNCTION

The procurement game is changing, thanks to the entry of generative AI. Over 40% of today's procurement initiatives leverage AI, adding fresh prowess to age-old methods. Generative AI supercharges decision-making, automates drudgery, and enhances compliance. Companies like Beroe, Globality, and AppZen are already on board, pushing for automated market intelligence, guided buying, and responsive accounts payable systems. But hold your horses—don't rush to adopt. Ensure you've got a rock-solid data foundation and ethical frameworks to truly unleash generative AI's transformative force.

🗞️ RESOURCES

In 2023, mastering PyTorch isn't just resume-padding—it's a passport to the cutting-edge universe of AI and ML. PyTorch is the Swiss Army knife for tech innovators, boasting a Python-friendly landscape, dynamic computational prowess, and an R&D-centric approach. With a burgeoning user base, flawless cross-platform synergy, and zippy performance metrics, it outshines its rivals. So, whether you're an old hand at coding or a fresh face in tech, PyTorch is your golden ticket to transformative opportunities.

🗞️ WORK

As potent AI chatbots like ChatGPT infiltrate the work landscape, we stand at a crucial juncture that either augments human productivity or eclipses it entirely. Key institutions like the Brookings Center and Georgetown University are holding significant conversations to unpack this complexity. From the policymakers to C-suite executives, understanding this evolving paradigm is not just beneficial—it's essential. It will fundamentally influence the demand for certain jobs and the skills required to excel in them.

🗞️ AI TOOLS

🔧 OpenRead: Experience the future with AI-powered interactive papers.

🔧 Observe.ai: Boost contact center performance and drive business outcomes. Faster.

🔧 LangoTalk: Master a language faster by chatting with AI.

🔧 Beautiful.ai: AI presentation software for the workplace.

🔧 PolyAI: Customer-Led Voice Assistants. Consistently deliver your best brand experience, achieve accurate resolution, and uncover data-driven business opportunities.

Disclaimer: 1) The tool descriptions are from the company behind each tool/app. 2) Please read the site details thoroughly before using and/or acquiring any of the tools listed above. We have not tested these tools and we will not be liable for anything.

🗞️ CHARTS

 👀  Deloitte's recent report, “The Generative AI Dossier,” tries GenAI’s impact. A sweeping look across industries—from finance and media to health care—reveals its transformative influence. This technology decodes consumer behaviors, streamlines tedious processes, and even fosters more personalized government-citizen relations. Gone are the days of AI as an experiment; it's now an established value driver guiding the next wave of enterprise evolution.

Disclaimer: The audio-visual content is courtesy of the source provided above.

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I'm not a newsletter expert so you might find my approach a tad different. In my daily dives into the world of AI, I handpick the latest gems, initially to support the AI projects that I’m working on. Realizing that these snippets might resonate with others, I thought, "Why not share this with my community and fellow AI enthusiasts?" I truly want this newsletter to be valuable to you so if there's anything on your mind—praises, critiques, or just a hello—please drop me a note. You can hit reply or shoot me a message directly at my email address: [email protected].

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