Note: This is a placeholder until I can fully write the article.
Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. I worked in industry and taught Computer Science classes for over 20 years. I am seeing a tremendous shift in what industry wants from Computer Science majors. AI, like ChatGPT, can write most of the basic programs we assign our students in Java, C++, or Python. We need to train students, so they know how to use and control AI. All subjects are being affected.
Computer Science
Artificial Intelligence has developed in Computer Science. Therefore, it is the first area being affected. A good overview of the effects is in this video. It is an advertisement, but it has good content.
Mathematics
Mathematics is also being affected by Artificial Intelligence. Teaching mathematics is evolving to better help our students thrive in a changing world. On e proposal to improve mathematics is “The 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice.”
Questions from a student
I received a set of questions from a student. I will answer them here for a second time. I had them all answered and I did not hit the save button frequently, so all edits were lost. Do not make that same mistake, ever! Save often.
- In your opinion, how will AI most significantly impact everyday life in the next 10–20 years? Please look at the first video posted in this article. It has a lot of good insights. Coding and entry level computer jobs will not be available. They will be done by AI. I have a friend who uses AI to generate his company’s code. He specifies the language to sue and what tests it should perform. He then asks AI to identify any other corner case that needs to be tested. He then has AI generate t=hose cases also. The one area I would emphasize is logic. Take the Discrete Structures course. Don’t memorize formulas, look for the underlying principals and know how to apply them to diverse problems. Improve your ethics and language skills
- What careers do you think AI will create, and which jobs will be most affected? Basic coding and entry level programming jobs will disappear. Logic and high-level planning positions will be more in demand. How well can you use AI to produce what is wanted? Can you ask the correct questions to produce what is desired? Can you se what is different than the desired program and specify what needs to be changed? Knowing how to program and the capabilities of different languages is still important. People using AI usually want programs written in specific languages. I personally would always inspect the generated product to verify that no backdoor was put into the code. Know various AI systems, so you are more useful. In general, knowing how to properly use AI will be critical to future careers. You want to control AI and not the reverse.
- Do you believe AI will be more beneficial or more harmful to society long term? Why? This depends on how it is used and who is using it. AI is a new tool. All tools are used for both good and for evil. If it is used for good, it will be of great befit and create far more jobs than it eliminates. Developers need to use ethical rules for AI creation. Look at Three laws of robotics | Definition, Isaac Asimov, & Facts | Britannica for one set of guidelines. Learn and go out and make Artificial Intelligence useful and beneficial.
- What ethical concerns about AI do you think young people should be paying attention to? Here people who create Artificial Intelligence need to work closely with the humanities and logic disciplines. Review these articles to get some idea of the importance of ethics and morality:
- What advice would you give to high school students who are interested in preparing for an AI-driven future? Take Discrete Structures and any other logic course you can take. These courses can be in mathematics, philosophy, social studies, government, law, or many other disciplines. Look for unifying theories. Learn concepts that lead to the creation of formulas. If you understand the concept and can apply them, you do not need to memorize formulas. At this time, you cannot think faster than an AI system. But you can think more creatively. Use and developed your capabilities so you can continue to use AI effectively.
Conclusion
I wish you well with all of your studies and your future thriving in a world influenced by Artificial Intelligence.
the student who asked me to answer these questions set a response to my article. I am putting it here, so I remember to respond to it.
Thank you so much Professor Cook! Thank you for going out of the way to put this on your website. Here are my responses to your questions:
I’m interested in how AI might change the way we actually learn and think for ourselves rather than just finishing tasks faster. It’s a big shift, and I’m curious about the long-term impact on our skills.
I was looking for a professor at FRCC who could give me a real-world perspective on this, and your name stood out to me. I’m not reaching out to everyone; I just thought your specific field would have the most interesting take on these changes.
Landon