IN today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as a critical force that will impact not only science students but everyone across various industries.
With approximately 20% of jobs potentially at risk of automation by AI, it is becoming increasingly clear that understanding and leveraging this technology will be essential for thriving in the future job market, says Penang Science Cluster chief executive officer Datuk Ooi Peng Ee.
“While the exact extent to which AI will reshape the workforce remains uncertain, one thing is certain: in a scenario where two candidates are vying for a position, the one who knows how to effectively utilise AI to enhance productivity and creativity will have a distinct advantage.
“As AI continues to permeate different sectors, individuals equipped with AI skills will be better positioned to adapt to the changing demands of the job market.
“Recognising this imminent shift, it is crucial to prepare students for the AI-driven future,” Ooi told Buletin Mutiara during an interview at PSC recently.
He said that the speed of AI adoption has been remarkable, surpassing even the most popular social media platforms.
“For instance, while it took WhatsApp 3.5 years to reach 100 million users, ChatGPT achieved a similar milestone in just two months, highlighting the phenomenal rate of adoption of AI technologies.
“However, alongside the excitement surrounding AI’s potential, it is essential to address its limitations and ethical considerations.
“One of the significant challenges with generative AI, including ChatGPT, is its tendency to ‘hallucinate’ or provide misleading information convincingly.
“This emphasises the importance of teaching students how to critically evaluate and validate the output of AI models, ensuring they cross-check references and discern between reliable and unreliable information.
“Moreover, issues such as bias and ethical implications associated with AI must also be addressed in AI education. Students need to comprehend not only how to use AI responsibly but also the broader societal impacts and ethical dilemmas surrounding its deployment,” Ooi added.
Ooi said he was encouraged to see students enthusiastically embracing AI, particularly through platforms like ChatGPT, during the launch of Experience AI Malaysia 2024 on April 6.
“What was even more encouraging is witnessing how these students are utilising AI responsibly and ethically to aid their learning process rather than resorting to unethical practices like cheating. They engage with ChatGPT to seek improvement suggestions, gather ideas, and enhance their understanding of various subjects,” he said.
Ooi mentioned that Experience AI Malaysia 2024 is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning programme for teachers and students, funded by and developed in collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Google DeepMind.
“Penang Science Cluster will be implementing this programme for 1,000 teachers and over 10,000 students in Malaysia, including Penang.
“We will be working with the Education Department of Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Perak, and Selangor for the rollout.
“Students will delve into the realm of AI applications and careers, fostering collaborative learning as they grasp the fundamentals of Machine Learning models.
“Through interactive sessions, they will immerse themselves in hands-on, practical activities, leveraging the user-friendly web-based tools offered by Machine Learning for Kids.
“These activities will empower students to craft their own Machine Learning models and nurture their skills in AI development,” Ooi explained.
He also highlighted that PSC collaborated with the Penang northeast district Education Office and piloted the Experience AI at PSC, Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, on Feb 7 and 8 this year.
“The pilot programme benefitted 56 students and 14 teachers from 14 schools,” he said.
As per the rollout timeline provided to Buletin Mutiara, the Experience AI programme for teachers is slated to run until October of this year, followed by advanced workshops extending through December.
For more details about the Experience AI Malaysia 2024, e-mail to [email protected]
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Siew Chia En