Navigating the AI Revolution: Critical Thinking, Ethics, and Skills for the Future

A blog by Sumit Anand, AI and Education consultant, World Bank

The Reshaping Work’s AI at Work Conference in Amsterdam set the stage to discuss and envision what the future of work will look like with this new wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As this complex statistical software reshaped traditional work environments, conversations flowed from leadership in the age of AI to the rise of AI agents and how GenAI fosters creativity through its randomness. We also deep-dived into discussions about the shift in the gig economy’s digital space and how we can foresee developments in that sector.

Education and Skills in the Age of AI

One of the questions that stayed with me was the inexplicability of the sudden shift in the ways we learn and educate. What sets GenAI apart from pre-existing AI and LLM models? From a practical point of view, LLM models recognise patterns in content, whereas GenAI creates content, opening the door to a world of possibilities. This topic fuelled rich conversations about what it could mean concerning the way we work. Another key takeaway was identifying the skills that will be required for the future of work. As part of this discussion, we also reflected on the role of human skills in this evolving landscape and which human skills will remain essential albeit any and every? technological advancement. Coding, being in high demand, steals the spotlight and dominates all conversations. Running a close second to coding is critical thinking, which is equally important. For instance, AI can inherit biases from its creators, making it prone to project those biases in its decisions. This is where human-in-loop is the need of the hour to ensure that unethical behaviour is not encouraged.?

My Research: AI and Career Readiness

During the conference, I had the opportunity to present my research under the theme of AI and skills, titled: “Does GenAI affect the career readiness of disadvantaged youth? Evidence from India.” AI bears the potential to improve the quality of education by providing better teaching, tailored curricula and personalised feedback at lower cost. Additionally, a lack of access to GenAI can possibly widen the gap for disadvantaged students, thereby widening the inequalities that already exist in the system. This research aligns with a broader conference theme: How can policymakers work with governments to help bureaucrats and administrators develop AI literacy and create a roadmap for the future?

Broadening Perspectives: Lessons from the Conference

The conference served as a unique opportunity to expand my knowledge, engage with new theories and tools, and connect with brilliant minds. To witness this transformative work being done with AI across different levels of organisations, leadership, and digital platforms was truly inspiring.

The conversations highlighted how AI, when applied thoughtfully, can reshape learning, work and society. Equally,it also reminded us that people must remain at the heart of these developments to ensure that progress is ethical, equitable, and sustainable.

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Education #ReshapingWork2024