GEF Madrid 2024: Academic-Corporate Collaboration in AI

Summary

The roundtable discussion explores the dynamic relationship between academia and corporations in the era of artificial intelligence. Panelists emphasize the importance of adapting curricula to include AI and ethical considerations, while balancing the need for foundational knowledge with industry-relevant skills. The conversation touches on the challenges of rapid technological change, the role of universities in preparing students for the future workforce, and the ethical implications of AI integration in education.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The relationship between academia and corporations in the AI era is a significant challenge, with a need for universities to adapt technology to better align with enterprise needs.
• 🤖 Technology has democratized, allowing small to medium enterprises the same access to advanced technologies as larger corporations, emphasizing the need for educational institutions to prepare students for this leveled playing field.
• 🏫 Academia should focus on embedding AI into every degree program, as AI literacy is becoming essential for all professionals, not just those in technical fields.
• 🔧 There is a gap between industry expectations and academic preparation, with a call for more coordination to ensure graduates are equipped with the necessary skills to contribute effectively in the workforce.
• 💡 The importance of 'heart skills' such as curiosity, empathy, and the ability to work in diverse environments is highlighted, suggesting these are crucial for adapting to rapid changes in the job market.
• 🛠️ Industry representatives expressed a desire for graduates with strong fundamental skills, including the ability to collaborate and adapt to new technologies, which are often lacking.
• 📈 The rapid pace of AI development requires a new approach to education that emphasizes adaptability and lifelong learning, as the half-life of skills shortens.
• 🔬 Ethical considerations in AI are paramount, and there is a need for universities to instill an understanding of ethics in AI development and use.
• 🧩 There is a noted discrepancy between student usage of AI and faculty adoption of AI strategies in education, indicating a need for faculty to better integrate AI into their teaching practices.
• 👨‍🏫 The role of faculty is pivotal in shaping the future workforce, and there is a need for them to embrace technological changes to effectively prepare students.
• 🌟 The debate underscores the importance of finding a balance between traditional educational methods and the integration of new technologies and skills, without losing sight of the ultimate goal of producing well-rounded, adaptable individuals.

Q & A

What is the main topic of discussion in the video script?

The main topic of discussion is the relationship between academia and corporations in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on the challenges and the need for adaptation in education and industry.

Why is the integration of AI in education considered important according to the script?

The integration of AI in education is considered important because it prepares students for a future where AI will be a significant part of various industries, and it helps in developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and other core skills.

What does Albert Rola suggest is missing in the relationship between academia and corporates?

Albert Rola suggests that what's missing is how universities can use technology to be closer to enterprises, especially small and medium enterprises, and the need for every degree to have AI embedded in it.

What does the script imply about the speed of technological change and its impact on education?

The script implies that the speed of technological change is rapid and unprecedented, which poses a challenge for education systems to adapt quickly enough to prepare students for the workforce and the evolving needs of industry.

What is the role of universities in the AI era as discussed in the script?

The role of universities in the AI era is to provide a foundation in critical thinking and core skills, while also adapting to incorporate AI and technology into their curriculum to better prepare students for the workforce.

What is the perspective of the panelist from K yon University at Qatar on industry expectations versus academic institution's role?

The panelist from K yon University suggests that there is a need for better coordination between industry expectations and academic institutions' understanding of their role, emphasizing the importance of building core skills like critical thinking, perseverance, and teamwork.

What does the script suggest about the current state of skill development in students?

The script suggests that while students have a good foundation, there is a gap in their readiness to hit the ground running in the industry. It highlights the need for better fundamental skills, such as collaboration and the ability to work in teams.

How does the script address the issue of ethics in AI and its relation to education?

The script addresses the issue of ethics in AI by emphasizing the need for ethical awareness and understanding in AI education, including the importance of transparency, human-centered design, and the ability to manage bias in AI systems.

What is the view of the corporate representative in the script regarding the skills gap between academia and industry?

The corporate representative in the script acknowledges the gap in skills, stating that while new graduates have a good foundation, there is a need for further development in fundamental skills and the ability to adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape.

What does the script suggest about the future of work and the importance of AI literacy?

The script suggests that AI literacy will be crucial for the future of work, with two types of workers emerging: those who continually use AI and excel, and those who resist change and risk being deskilled and devalued.

How does the script discuss the importance of adapting education to the changing world?

The script discusses the importance of adapting education by emphasizing the need for universities to keep pace with societal and technological changes, ensuring that students are equipped with both core knowledge and new skills, including power skills and ethics related to AI.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Academia and Corporate Synergy in AI Era

The speaker introduces a discussion on the relationship between academia and corporations in the age of artificial intelligence. The session aims to be interactive and educational, emphasizing the importance of sharp questioning and learning to feed an 'E engine.' The speaker highlights the large virtual attendance and the significance of the topic, suggesting that universities should innovate to better connect with businesses, especially中小企业. Albert Rola is invited to share his insights on the missing links between academia and corporate relationships in the AI era.

05:00

🤝 Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry

Albert Rola discusses the democratization of technology, where even small and medium enterprises have access to the same advanced technologies as larger corporations. He suggests that universities should leverage this technology to foster closer ties with businesses, emphasizing the importance of AI and cloud services. Rola also stresses the need for every degree program to integrate AI, as it is not only for tech professionals but for everyone, highlighting the potential for AI to streamline and add value to various corporate processes.

10:03

🏛️ University Education and Industry Expectations

The conversation shifts to the university perspective with a representative from KET at Qatar University. The speaker addresses the need for better coordination between industry expectations and academic institutions' understanding of their role. There is a call for universities to build core skills in students, such as critical thinking and problem-solving, alongside 'softer skills' like tenacity and teamwork. The importance of these foundational skills is emphasized, as they are difficult to teach later in one's career.

15:05

🛠️ Industry's View on Academic Preparation

Charlie from HP shares insights on the corporate academic relationship, focusing on the skills gap that exists between university graduates and industry needs. Despite having a robust pipeline through internships and recruitment, HP finds that new recruits often lack the necessary fundamental skills. The speaker highlights the decline in collaboration skills among students and the need for universities to adapt more quickly to the changing needs of the corporate world, especially in the context of AI.

20:17

📊 The Impact of AI on the Future Workforce

The discussion continues with an emphasis on the rapid integration of AI in the workplace and the potential for a bifurcated workforce—those who embrace AI and excel, and those who resist and risk being left behind. The speaker warns of the urgent need for both academia and industry to adapt to the accelerating pace of AI, suggesting that the traditional methods of teaching may need to evolve to better prepare students for the realities of the modern workforce.

25:18

🌟 The Role of Faculty in Shaping the Future

The conversation turns to the role of faculty in developing students' 'heart skills' and the importance of ethical awareness when it comes to AI. The speaker from Power School emphasizes the need for students to understand the ethical implications of AI and to be prepared to interact with and modify AI outputs. There is a call for universities to partner with corporations to ensure that graduates are not only technically proficient but also ethically conscious.

30:18

🚀 Adapting to the Speed of Technological Change

Albert discusses the rapid pace of change in technology and the need for education systems to adapt quickly. He emphasizes the importance of developing 'power skills' in students, such as adaptability and a willingness to learn, which are crucial for employability in a fast-changing world. The speaker also highlights the importance of not just teaching technical skills but also ensuring that students are prepared for the ongoing evolution of work processes and products.

35:19

🎓 Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Education

The final paragraph delves into the debate about the balance between traditional teaching methods and the integration of technology in education. The speaker argues against the notion that all traditional methods should be abandoned in favor of technology and emphasizes the importance of evidence-based teaching practices. There is a call for a mindful approach to change in education, ensuring that any modifications are made with a clear understanding of their purpose and long-term benefits.

40:19

🌱 The Importance of Ethical Considerations in AI Education

The closing remarks of the discussion underscore the importance of ethical considerations in AI education. The speaker highlights the need for universities to not only teach technical skills but also to instill a sense of ethics and responsibility in students. The conversation concludes by emphasizing the interconnectedness of innovation, technology, and ethics, and the importance of adapting to societal changes while maintaining a focus on the well-being of students.

Keywords

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the video's theme, AI is central to the discussion on the relationship between academia and corporations. It is highlighted as a transformative technology that both sectors need to embrace, with the script mentioning how AI is democratized and accessible to everyone, including small and medium enterprises.

💡Academic-Corporate Relationship

This concept refers to the interaction and collaboration between educational institutions and business organizations. The video discusses the importance of a strong relationship in the AI era, emphasizing the need for universities to be closer to enterprises, especially small and medium ones, to leverage technology and prepare students for the workforce.

💡Democratization of Technology

The term 'democratization of technology' suggests that advanced technologies are no longer exclusive to large corporations and are now accessible to smaller entities and individuals. In the script, this is mentioned as a positive development, allowing equal opportunities for innovation across different sizes of businesses.

💡Innovation

Innovation is the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. The script discusses how innovation is closely tied to knowledge, which is often generated within universities, and how academia needs to innovate to better connect with the corporate world.

💡Educational Technology

Educational technology encompasses the use of tools and processes for delivering educational content, typically involving digital media. The script mentions how universities can use technology to educate students and teachers, suggesting that technology should be integrated into the educational experience to prepare students for the AI era.

💡Enterprise

An enterprise refers to a business organization or entity involved in commercial, industrial, or professional activities. In the context of the video, the term is used to discuss the potential of small and medium enterprises to adopt AI and other technologies, and the role of universities in preparing students to contribute to these enterprises.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. The script emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in education, suggesting that academic institutions should focus on developing this skill in students, which is highly valued by the industry.

💡Soft Skills

Soft skills are personal attributes that enhance an individual's interactions, job performance, and career prospects. The video discusses the importance of soft skills such as tenacity, perseverance, and teamwork, which are difficult to teach but are increasingly valuable in the workplace.

💡Ethics in AI

Ethics in AI pertains to the moral principles that guide the development and use of artificial intelligence. The script touches on the need for ethical considerations in AI, including transparency, bias representation, and the importance of human-centered design in AI applications.

💡Digital Literacy

Digital literacy refers to the ability to use digital technology, communicate through it, and understand the digital world. The script suggests that true digital literacy is more than just being able to use social media; it involves being able to effectively navigate and use technology in various aspects of life and work.

💡Adaptability

Adaptability is the quality of being able to adjust to new conditions or circumstances. The video discusses the need for students to be adaptable in the face of rapid technological changes, emphasizing that universities should prepare students not just for the current job market, but for future roles that may not yet exist.

Highlights

The relationship between Academia and corporates in the artificial intelligence era is a significant challenge.

The objective of the session is to learn and feed the AI engine, emphasizing the educational aspect of the discussion.

There is a large-scale online engagement with 1,200 people connected in different sessions.

Albert Rola emphasizes the democratization of technology, allowing equal access to technological resources for companies of all sizes.

Academia needs to innovate and be closer to companies, especially small and medium enterprises, to leverage technology effectively.

Oracle provides programs to give universities access to technology for educating students and teachers.

Albert suggests every degree should have AI embedded, as AI is not only for tech professionals but for everyone.

The discussion highlights the importance of universities adapting technology to better prepare students for the corporate world.

KET from Kyon University in Qatar stresses the need for coordination between industry expectations and academic perceptions.

Academic institutions aim to build core skills like critical thinking and problem-solving, not just technical skills.

There is a call for better fundamental skills and soft skills like collaboration, which have reportedly decreased over time.

Charlie from HP discusses the gap between university education and industry needs, suggesting a need for better adaptation by academia.

The importance of ethical considerations in AI and technology is raised, with a need for transparency and human-centered design.

The role of AI in K-12 education is discussed, with a focus on ethical awareness and understanding of AI's ethical nature.

The conversation concludes with a reflection on the need for balance between adapting to technological changes and maintaining educational integrity.

The debate underscores the importance of producing well-rounded individuals capable of adapting to future job markets.

Transcripts

Al and it's going to be switching

between English and Spanish uh this is

really challenging uh because we're

going to speak about what is the

relationship between Academia and uh the

corporates in the artificial

intelligence era so I think this is one

big challenge um remember two things

very important we're going to try to be

sharp in the in the different questions

um the objective of this session is not

only learn but also to uh feed the the E

engine that we are generating so I think

that's going to be very dactic as I told

you and this morning was 1,200 people

connected in the different sessions so

there is people here but there more

people there there families there is

students there is uh 50 uh rooms in

different schools that it's uh it's um

really interesting I think that I'm not

going to introduce every single uh

panelist because you have behind behind

us who is who I think that maybe when I

pass the first question he can present

his because it's much better if we do

like this and I want to begin with the

first question uh to Albert Rola for two

reasons first because I learned a lot

working with with him about 25 years ago

and the second question is that Albert

was participating in the in the in the

last Global education Forum when we

spoke about the challenging of higher

education so the first question to you

uh Albert what is missing between

academic and corporate relationship in

the AA era

well good good afternoon right so I

think past night place yes so good

afternoon

no now yeah good afternoon um how long I

have to answer that question yes so I

think it's a very important question um

the good news is I believe that

technology has been democratized that

means that the same technology that the

big compan companies the big Telos the

big banks have

access today small medium Enterprise

have the same technology available and

it's the first time that this happens so

that's the good news everyone can have

can access the same technology

everywhere in the world doesn't matter

the size of the company the culture the

religion

anything the second thing is that and

you and I were discussing earlier is

that there is a situation where

Innovation is about knowledge and

knowledge

is universities ories so for me the

academies need to use more The

Innovation to be closer to companies so

we as Oracle for example we have

different progs where we can provide

technology to the to the universities to

have access to educate the students to

educate teachers all that stuff but for

me what's

missing but I see some progress is that

how universities can be using that

technology to be much closer to the

Enterprise especially to a small medium

Enterprise so they small medum

Enterprise they have a huge potential

but they are not yet even thinking about

the value of the technology can provide

to them the AI the cloud services and

this is about simplification it's about

making spending the time and the money

on the things that brings value to their

companies because the rest can be

managed automatically for instance in

our case our database where everything

is data today on AI is autonomous there

is no people behind managing a

database um everything the patching the

security and the performance is being

done automatically by the database

itself um the

applications uh the erps HCM all the

tools that the companies have today they

already have this technology the AI

embedded where they can really bring

value to their companies and it's where

the employees they need to put a focus

not on technical staff today so for me

is University is closer to small medum

Enterprise and the second thing

is today every single degree should have

ai

embedded not AI is not about only for

the tech guys it's not about for

engineers AI is for everyone so I see

today my company we offer for example an

Erp for um

uh uh

CFOs so the CFO can

create automatically autonomously using

gen AI the annual report the CFO

interaction with the annual report is

using natural language so once he's

reading he can ask can you add uh what

happened what could be what has been the

impact on my results this this last

fiscal year because I was missing a

certain product for a period of time

and this interaction is natural language

doesn't need to program anything and he

get the addition and say okay so can you

put that in a graph and the graph is

being defined so can you compare that in

the previous years and all this thing is

being put in different bars different

years so and this a CFO I can give

examples for supply chain I can give

examples of HR I can give examples for

any single process any company so for me

technology should be embedded in any

kind of Education

degree uh University or Spain for

professional okay at any level good um I

think that's something that Albert has

said that this is AA is a leveler so

it's it's allowed to every single

University and every single company is

like a safety card in the Formula One

it's everybody is the same line and now

you need to be prepared for the next

step um I'm going to jump to the to the

university perspective KET uh you

represent um K yon University at Qatar

and education City do you think that the

universities two questions the first

thing is they are always everybody is

using the this approach in the same time

and what is your experience how is kelon

doing this approach to the corporate

Market in the

AA

okay so thank you

um so two questions I got double the

time no yeah all right

so let me say I I think that one of the

big things that we've seen over the

years and and I I love a lot of what has

been said but I'll tell you the flip

side of things I I'd love to see a

little more coordination between

industry's expectations and the academic

institution's perception of the role

that Academia plays

um you often when you talk to Industry

the general impression is that industry

want people who can join their

institution and hit the ground running

and unfortunately unless they are more

mature industry institutions that are

willing to invest a little further but I

cannot tell you how many times we get

folks from industry saying you know why

aren't you teaching them X um and you

can change X over the years all the way

from PHP to HTML to something to

something that and we and them we know

that Technologies change and evolve

right um we're not in the business at

least the good places the good academic

institutions we're not in the business

of making you pick up tools or platforms

we are the business of building your

core in our minds and we hope that that

core gets appreciated and understood by

you know we're still producing these

people to the output which is industry

we just came out of the session that

stresses a lot on the importance of

critical thinking we all put it we all

love what Ben said that everybody claims

to do it and you know not many actually

do it but I go beyond

that I really think that academic

institutions roles now Beyond trying or

claiming to try to embed more and more

critical thinking you know problem

solving the standard set of of of skills

that we talk about I think what's

equally important are some of the things

that are softer but more difficult to

embed like tenacity perseverance

teamwork uh you all know what I mean by

that and you cannot shortcut these

things and they are so valuable that

it's so ult to teach later on it it it's

gradual it takes time A lot of times you

have to just bump your head into

something for so long until you

understand what it means to build

perseverance now I'm saying all this

because I feel that in the industry

academic dialogue we need to constantly

be reminded again of that even in my

chats with industry reps I try to tell

them take somebody who would be an

excellent long-term investment like our

Carnegie melon products although often

we don't need to to try that hard to

sell them but in principle this is a

dialogue that we do have and be willing

to continue the next couple of steps of

localized customization and education in

a way that fits you but rest assured we

have done a really good job trying to

build the foundation and I say this out

loud because it's important and we

forget about it and Industry forgets

about it and sometimes some academics

will forget about it because we'll be

sucked into oh let's go and work on the

tools and let's work on all these hot

things because wait wait a minute you

know there is still a lot of value in

what we are trying to do as long as we

keep our eyes on the

ball having said that I'll just comment

I love the last part that you mentioned

that you think AI should be part of

pretty much everything we are teaching

we've been saying that for years

Carnegie Mel is a heavy tech school um

we've just been saying computational

thinking should be part of everybody's

uh experience and knowledge because

again it buils on that core skill set

that we are talking about computational

thinking is essentially the new math in

our minds okay good mind I would like to

add one couple of things until

now until now we had hard skills and

softer skills recently I found a much

better definition and are switchable

heart skills because heart skills are

required is changing very fast and

instead of softer skills that something

is called soft skills is like we are not

starting in the right direction

but they read something like solid

powered

skills

curiosity uh

empathy um uh listening learning how to

work in a diverse environment and I'm

more in a fan about solid powered skills

as part of the education that you

described earlier let me U I'm going to

take this this note on your comment and

then I'm going to pass to you Charlie

from HP you know responsible for

education in HP so it's it's good um

about five months ago we we uh asked to

em at the beginning of the EM uh tell me

what are the 10 top skills that one

student needs to have in this AI era and

we ask please invite invite invent uh a

word that nobody's using because we want

to use it and tell me what this kind of

skills it's amazing the result I'm I'm

trying to to look uh for for this video

because it's very simple it's one about

two but it's it's something really

interesting about different skills that

nobody's putting on the table so do you

think from the HP side do you think that

uh your view of corporate academic

relationship not only as industry but

also as a employee employer of of

students do you think that you find the

right skills AI availability

disponibility in not only the the

employees that you have but also that

you are going to have it would you tell

me this so I would say um the experience

that we have uh bringing in in college

interns and we work by the way with uh

you know Academia around the world we

have a very robust uh pipeline through

our internships and through recruitment

with universities I would say that um

you know we we do the best we can to

work with with Academia we sponsor a lot

of uh research projects that being said

um do I feel that the quality of the

people we're getting in hits the ground

running to ced's you know point of view

I would say no quite honestly no it

doesn't similar to the belief that when

you leave secondary school you're ready

to go to university if you uh you know

interview and I think there was a study

done recently that said you know 98% of

secondary school teachers believe that

secondary students are ready for

University and you then you know

interview the universities and they say

oh my gosh no it's only about 133% you

know and we see the first year of

University really is being grade 13 to

get them ready for University we see the

same thing coming from University coming

into the workforce we believe that they

do have a good foundation and I think

that Foundation has changed over the

years and the skill set that they come

in with has changed over the years but

then we have to mold them into who we

want them to be um and so I think we

spent a lot of time in our Corporation

specifically but I know in a lot of

other corporations we work with that uh

there's a lot of investment in Learning

and Development once they come into the

university to what we're trying to have

them do we love well-rounded individuals

don't get me wrong but we also wish that

they came in with some better

fundamental skills and so we spend a lot

of time on better fundamental skills and

fundamental skills being the ability to

collaborate collaboration has certainly

gone down in the years that I and I've

by the way I've been with hp24 almost

come coming up on 25 years I think

collaboration skills have dropped the

ability to work in teams has dropped I

think

expectations of a student uh coming in

has risen to a certain level that is

maybe not achievable you know I have a

degree I'm going to rapidly go up

through the the ranks I've been here six

months why am I not CEO yet you

know kind of heard that question or at

least why am I not running a team and

it's like well everybody else here is

also got the same degree and you know

thank you so much um so I think that

there is there there is this Gap and I

think that we as industry need to do a

better job of relaying what those needs

are and then I think Academia quite

honestly needs to be a better do a

better job of quickly adapting to those

needs which Academia never really does

quickly adapt to right Academia is very

slow in adaptation to to Corporation

needs I think um that's going to have to

change I literally think that's going to

have change especially in the world of

AI I think it's going to really need to

be very important that Academia uh you

know Embraces AI Embraces as part of a

career development path Embraces as part

of a fundamental skill because soon

there's going to be two types of workers

and I think you guys have probably all

heard this before there's going to be

the workers that go up who continually

use Ai and there's the workers who are

going to get

deskilled and get devalued and get

pushed down into basic jobs because they

don't use Ai and so that is very rapidly

happening today we see that happening

today people who are bracing AI with in

HP are excelling people who are

resistant to that change probably not so

much so y you I I think that uh the

point is that when you make research

depending on the countries I think that

the AA um goes to one uh speed that

nobody can control so it's something

that is is happening so it's you can say

no we can stop it's going to be a you

know something temporal or something

like that you need to change everything

so and the point is that if you analyze

in Spain for example some of the data is

that 85 85% of the students are using AA

and the different in the day per day

things only 68% of the faculty is using

that but only 54% is adopting an a

strategy on EA so it's it's it's a

global scale so it's not a problem of if

the students are using it or not it's a

problem of act as a company you need to

do that well and you know one other

thing I will say just really quick and

and this is again I love Academia and I

spent a lot of time in universities

around the world you know even in uh the

faculty have not embraced necessarily

technology right I I've been to a lot of

classes and in fact I was at a maths

class in Columbia University uh just

before Christmas and they took me to

this math class and you know everyone

was seated in this large Auditorium type

seating and the professor stood up and

wrote on green chalkboards with white

chalk all of his mathematical you know

formulas for the class used a big stick

to push him up so everyone in the

auditorium could see there was not a

single piece of technology used in that

entire lesson he won't use PowerPoint he

won't use a computer he's certainly not

going to be using AI in any way shape or

form he's going to be very resistant to

that he is teaching the same way that I

learned back in 1988 when I went to

school and probably the same way people

learned back in 1950s and 60s right that

has to change right students are going

to emulate what they see and if they're

not being taught to use the technology

by their professors then they're not

simply going to be a digital native I I

don't believe in this whole digital

native belief just because you can be on

social media does not make you a digital

native you need to have true digital

literacy to be effective this is not for

replay but if you analyze for example

the trends in the students that what is

the one of the top two priorities in

every single European country for one

student is earn money so if you have

something on the table that is going to

uh you know give more speed to uh make

money to earn money to you know to be on

the market I think that this challenge

is going to be because EA is one of them

maybe critical thinking not or maybe

other things but EA is going to be

something who is on the table that is

going to uh approach this student to the

market and maybe maybe the university

can be jumped and it's I don't want to

reply but I'm going to pass to Sonia

because Sonia the is making

research 22 years ago about everything

can you give me your vision about this

collaboration between yeah Academia and

corporates please yeah okay and

sorry thank you for having me and I'll

try to be brief and I'll try to fit

Emily as well and I'm going to switch to

Spanish if it's okay with everybody

um I cannot agree with you more

but for

s

we have to keep working of

course B um I think that I'm I'm 100%

agree with you uh the role The Faculty

it's really important always because

it's going to be you know somebody who

who can stop or develop any single thing

so it's it's it's really important let

me jump to the PWC environment so jaier

I think thanks for coming because I

think that today you are not feeling

very well so but thanks for I can talk

yes and tell me as Big Top you know big

four uh how you look

for what is the way that you look for

new people on AA where do you find it

that is the first question well yes this

is a very interesting topic because I'm

leading the AI and analytics team I've

been leading it in Spain for a while and

I've been in AI for almost 20 years

already trying to apply it to solving

business problems right uh in the last

years I've seen a an evolution on the

profiles that we've been hiring and I

tell you I am very much involved in the

hiring process because at the end of the

day if I hire a good team I'm going to

do a lot better than if if I just let

somebody else do my job right so um in

the last maybe five years or so what I

have seen a uh let's say um a very

significant change in the skills that

the people have brought from University

which and and and the change was

that they

were before they were used to you went

to a math class just like that I had the

same chalk green Blackboard and so forth

and then you have to train the new what

we call the new joiners in either python

or whatever in order to start being

productive right H what we have seen in

the last years is that they have been

using the tools to perform their classes

their you know their their assignments

and their final uh let's say the final

works or everything for maybe three or

four years at the same time that they

were learning the basics so if if they

were learning Telecom engineering or

math or not so much math or physics but

the engineering uh profiles uh we have

seen this a lot or yeah maybe other

careers uh we've seen this more recently

that they have been using the tools to

perform their job so when they come with

us it's like another project and they

they already know the tools another very

important thing that has been talked is

that one thing is learning the basics

and and you said it very well that you

know you have to learn how to talk with

machines this is learning programming in

a broad sense it doesn't mean learning

how to do it in Java or PHP or whatever

right and this is the what what we have

been misled about that programming is

not language programming this I can talk

and I can talk in Spanish in English and

uh some other languages but but talking

is one thing and trans meeting a concept

is one thing and and speaking a language

is another it happens the same with

programming now we have programming in

another language AI prompting is

programming in English or in Spanish but

you have to know how to talk with a

machine you cannot say just do this this

and that and expect that you know some

magic happens and this is when the you

know the hype cycle is going to calm

down the people expectation is that this

is some sort of magic that you can just

talk to the machine and have a perfect

answer answer right I mean and you need

how to talk to the machine and this

means you know have a basic let's say

programming or whatever you want to call

it skills that comes with you know

whatever discipline that you have uh

studied either math physics engineering

or whatever uh gives you a basic set of

uh you know skill sets that then you

apply but applying those skill sets

while you are learning them for me is

something that has already started and

this is where we have to you know put

more focus on okay before go to Ryan um

I think that prompting engineering is a

is a profession is a career that

everybody wants to put on the table now

but I think that um prompting um

questioner is another one so I think

that I have a my family journalist all

of them and my my daughter has recently

finished two double degree outstanding

thing number one students and whatever

and uh and it's a journalist and

communication no and tell me Pap I have

a problem you don't have that problem

because I think that you we need people

who knows how to make prompts how make

questions to the a in every single thing

but it's one window very small that we

have today I think that the next month

everything is going to change so this is

the first thing and and other thing that

you have said is that the the the um the

classroom it's 21st it's 19th century

the the The Faculty is 20 century and

the student is 21th Century so this this

Gap could be big due to the artificial

intelligence if we don't follow the

faculty if we don't follow the academic

corporate relationships and these kind

of things I think that we are Runing

around the same topics in all of them

tell me the PO School vision about this

thing so first of all thank you for

having me uh good afternoon everyone um

you know I think the one the one word I

haven't heard here is sort of the

ethical awareness

and the understanding when it comes to

you our business is is strictly K12

education so we're working

with slow moving very slow moving uh

School entities all across the world who

are very concerned about bias

representation about authenticity about

all sorts of things related to Ai and so

one of the first things that we like to

do

as a corporate entity is partner with

universities to really have the

conversation about not just skill sets

in terms of programming and being able

to develop but are they coming in with

an understanding around the ethical

nature the importance of that um the the

need to be transparent in

design uh the need to start with the

human- centered conversation at the

Forefront um and in all the work we're

doing uh we're really focused on the

concept that in the end whatever

whatever AI produces there has to be the

ability the ability for human

interaction to make modifications to do

the adjustments uh when when you get

into a classroom um with a third grade

teacher uh we find over and over again

huge hesitation and fear and so

everything that we can do to help relay

those con concerns everything from is

there going to be a teacher here 10

years from now which we believe 100%

there will be uh to just making sure the

information that's coming and being

generated is

um we can't eliminate bias but is in a

place that is uh bias um reflective so

there's an understanding that there can

be a there can be a communication

between student parent home

Administration and so you know I think

when when you connect it to highered uh

we certainly want all the skills coming

out we we want you to be able to program

we want the highest skill set possible

we want everyone from Carnegie melon we

we'll take that every day uh but there's

another piece there and that's that I

think it's the soft soft skill piece

Albert that you started talking about um

it's really I like that especially being

Power School um that that piece is that

piece is really important it's really

important I think it starts with uh um

with sort of the the foundation around

understanding the

ethics okay good um I'm following uh

your point with the K2 no we

are we are we are not arrived to

University but you know we have made a

research with the global education Forum

that analyzed that uh the university

begins at the school so I think this Gap

that the two years between 16 years old

and 18 years old it's a huge gap that

you can be there so because everybody's

thinking in the University that you need

to have 18 years old and then you go to

university and then you finish with 21

and then continue your normal path uh

industry is looking 16 to 18 years old

students because they can learn in the

school more things than the university

because the regulation is different and

you can be as a as a as as a topic no

what do you think Albert about this this

point so I think that the um One Piece

where we are missing all this is not

about we want to transform whatever so I

think that we need to assume that the

speed of

change that we don't control the speed

yeah is going so fast that we need

education students universities to

change the difference is that the speed

is not the same despite what we are

discussing here I mean the first

Industrial Revolution took a 100 years

that the first thing that was created

impact the entire population in the

world AI

took 3

weeks that's the scale and I think that

in I'm working with some universities

here in Spain try to challenge them

being in a school um in Spain where

there are no

classrooms where the main focus is to

how to educate the kids

to make them to develop their power

skills to develop those ability or those

skills that will make them more

employable in the world where things are

going so fast and I believe that coming

back to my first point that is not about

um technical

universities uh we have a pram in Oracle

in Spain called rent Tech where we did

we are now on the second edition that we

basically go to the market Spanish

Market selecting women no job one

University

degree English and no idea on

it we go to the market and find which

profiles companies are looking for our

job is to coach those women to obtain

one certificate from Oracle and to get a

job the day

after none of them have any IT

background so I believe that the the

common element skills they have are

those power skills they have the

appetite they are willing to learn

they're willing to change and they're

really going really fast so for me

is maybe I don't want to put in the

trash what we are doing obviously on

universities I'm not an expert on that

thing but we need to reinvent to adapt

to the world is going so fast

independent what we decide here right

and we cannot change that unfortunately

maybe we'd like to see things going a

little more slowly right but I think

that how to adapt to this change how to

make employees more capable or students

more capable to adapt to all these

changes because what I mean my my dad is

95 he started doing a job he retired

doing the same job his or didn't change

his processes didn't change in the

entire business life now in any of the

companies that we are working on maybe

in two months

something has changed the work the

process the product so we need to

prepare the students on adapting to this

really fast change this this connection

between the Academia or the universities

with we're going to say Academia no

because not only not everything is it's

universities it's Academia and and

corporations um there is a a big big big

uh issue of Mind generation so I think

that people needs to understand what is

this without fear this is not going to

replace my job it's is not going to be

you know the faculty uh replacement or

something like this not at all in every

single industry is going to change but

but I think that discussion uh it's

important that everybody needs to

understand what is the EA and I think

that this event is one example that it's

it's interesting to tomorrow um uh this

uh this event has a second day

internally for faculty students and

families more than 500 people has been

registered to physical attendees to

learn user cases that the university and

the schools are are doing that and we

speaking about fathers too so it's it's

not only an issue of the faculty or the

or that ho in car melon is doing

this

so yeah yeah okay so I was I was itching

to respond to a couple of this and I I I

I feel a little bit bad I feel a little

bit bad that it looks like I'm holding

the banner of Academia here but um it's

not intended that way but I I'll make a

couple of observations first of

all we keep blam ing or talking about

older kind of education as being

extremely poor but you're all sitting

here with really good jobs with that

education so think about that for a

minute before we just keep trashing

everything that's one two one of the

things and and I'm not saying this to

push against that we need to change but

I do really want us to be mindful of the

direction of the change and to keep our

eyes on the ball that to really

differentiate between the means and the

goal all right so this idea of oh

everything is changing we have to

include this everywhere that's not a

reason okay I I I don't buy that um I

like that you brought up the example of

the classroom I very strongly disagree

with the initial perception of that one

of our faculty in this day and age who

still uses the board maybe not chalk he

he uses markers just won the best

teaching faculty award by the current

generation who supposedly loves

technology and there's a lot of research

that shows how important writing and

going on a board is to the learner slow

that you actually get to organize your

thoughts so that for me was an ex sorry

but it's an excellent example to be

careful there are times where you do

need technology to enhance a bunch of

things and there are times where you do

need to stick to some of the classic

methodologies that research has proven

and shown that this is extremely

conducive to appropriate learning how

many times are we Critical with the

younger Generations now that are just so

quick to doing something and are not

just slowing down and reflecting and

showing that something is both

accessible and methodical and you need

time you want people to hit the ground

running right and you are right that

there exists the Gap but we also want to

produce people and you keep hearing it

who will find a job 3040 years from now

which will need to do things that have

nothing to do with what you're asking

for today so I can't give you what you

want now and I would be doing a

disservice to those students if I were

to give you exactly what you want now

and I feel very strongly as you can tell

from my tone about all this but I I

think this is a very healthy debate

because in the end we are producing

people who can contribute to the

companies and to the industries that we

have and it is about finding that middle

ground it's about keeping our eyes on

the ball you ask me what we are doing

back to there are a bunch of course

skills Carnegie Melon now has developed

its view on its core competency skills

and we're going through a full revamp of

what that means a lot of this stuff very

consciously includes soft skills I love

the term power skills where are we doing

these in the curriculum being more

intentional about it where is you're

absolutely right about collaboration and

teamwork it is we just saw in our campus

that this is not as good as where we

would like it to be problem is I want to

be able to assess you so it's better if

you work individually we do need to do

better we are working on it I think the

big problem is we can afford to do that

as a Carnegie melon i' like to remind

people that we are not very

representative of the full distribution

of universities out there and I think

that is one of our biggest challenges

that you cannot take the top leading n

institutions and what they're doing as

indications of of what is really being

done elsewhere and it is much slower

than we would like we are integrated in

computational thinking you'll find

people in business and biology and other

Majors that doing some computational

thinking or programming course is a must

um you're absolutely right it's about

not that you can program how do you

actually take a problem chop it up be

methodical about it how do you even

prompt an AI I'll close with this in my

mind and excuse my geeky analogy I think

we're in the business of producing

general purpose llm individuals you guys

should be in the purpose of fine-tuning

it for what you need and if we can keep

that focus and agree on it and we get

your patience in knowing that you're not

going to get nor should you get people

who can hit the ground running you'll

get short-term gain you will get a

long-term loss and we need to slow down

and not just jump on oh the world's

changing so quick we need to change why

are we changing for what we need to be

very mindful of answering those before

we actually go forward with that it

might mean that we're slow too slow is

bad I think too fast is bad as as well

good but it's it's good point because

this is this table it's about corporate

and Academia relationship in the AA era

no know how to implement AI in my

curriculum so it's really interesting

why because when you make the research

for the students 8,000 students one of

the main problems that you see is the

well-being issues and that this

well-being issues is the pressure that

sometimes the student has when you say

you are the future and the fure in your

hands and the student says I don't want

to have the f in my hands because please

don't put this pressure on me and I

think that the role of the Academia can

be regulate the demands of the market

and the how do you say the stress of the

students Sonia what do you think about

this I I think that you are right I mean

you cannot change fast and because of

there's a new technology appearing I

think universities they need to give

like a training in in in core knowledge

but also combining with all the all

those new skills power skills and soft

skills and then the the student itself

themselves they are going to be able to

adapt to what the companies are going to

are going to ask them in 2015 30 years I

I don't care I don't know but but that's

very substantial it's not that

universities need to change for no

reasons they need to change because the

world is is changing and because the

society is changing so they need to keep

track of that and of course the speed or

the that velocity of change will be

different depending if you are part of a

company of a university or of a school

of course but and and we've seen before

this morning the different um knowledge

Corps of knowledge Corps yeah so the

veloc the speed of changing changing

will be different but you need to keep

trying and and apart from that that

um and and you were talking about the

ethics and you need also to to keep in

mind that the technology it's changing

and The innov Innovation is is is

appearing and at the same time you are

universities are responsible to keep in

mind that the ethics the it also needs

to keep changing and keep combining so

Innovation and technology has to go hand

in hand with with the ethic and the the

the the changing of the ethic and the

adaptation of the ethic to this new

world that we are facing well can I just

mention I yeah I talk about the ethics

piece because there needs to be a

differentiation why go to

university I mean I can we can hire

programmers we can hire people right now

who can program for AI if that's what

we're talking about here and the

university doesn't matter a

bit so what's the difference

differentiator

why just like HP Power School Oracle we

have to all stay relevant so the

universities

good well I sorry about that I think

that I I have a really tough uh role uh

because it's I need to cut the

conversation here and the most

interesting thing for me is that this

conversation begins like Academia and

the corporate relationships and go to

everywhere in in in relationship with

the students with the faculty family you

know ethics um wellbeing um skills power

skills why because I think that this is

a a table topic it's something that you

can talk in your in your home at dinner

time or whatever thanks for your time um

has been a pleasure for me and I hope

that you enjoy the round table and

thanks for your time we will back here

at 5:30 with a session with the students

because we are going to ask to the

students what they think about this and

I think it's going to be challenging for

all of us thank you thank you for

everybody