By Okon Ekpenyong

Tuesday, June 11, 2024, a momentous event unfolded at the Ohio Statehouse. Top university executives across Ohio met with industry experts to convene for the annual Inter-University Council of Ohio conference. This year’s conference aims to foster collaboration and innovation, focusing on an artificial intelligence symposium to discuss its advantages and disadvantages.

It was the first Inter-University Council Ohio discussion on AI, which brought together university presidents, industry leaders, and experts in artificial intelligence to discuss the latest trends and developments in AI. They discuss how AI uses algorithms and data to learn patterns and make decisions or predictions. Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, a leader in promoting economic and workforce development, emphasizes the impact of technologies like AI in strengthening the economy and transforming government operations.

Ohio leaders and universities across the state have been exploring ways to benefit from AI technology’s growth while acknowledging the potential dangers it brings, including cybersecurity, data privacy, and countering cutting-edge AI threats. For instance, certain apps can help individuals create false information about a person or use someone’s voice to fabricate a lie, ultimately putting that individual in danger of public embarrassment.

The main focus of the Symposium was leveraging the use of AI and exploring whether its growth can lead to investment in research and development to advance its technology further. The findings of this research could one day help develop the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the growing demand for the workforce.

The conference also included breakout sessions on how AI has the potential to create disinformation in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, as well as its advantages in helping prepare students for the new workforce. As AI technology advances, there will be collaboration between academia and industry to drive innovation and ensure Ohio’s global competitiveness.

The Symposium provided a platform for university presidents, the critical drivers of innovation, to actively explore partnerships with industry leaders. This initiative fosters a culture of innovation and knowledge sharing, paving the way for academia and industry to push the boundaries of AI research and development, leading to breakthroughs and advancements.

The inter-university council, led by President and CEO Laura Lanese, promotes cooperation and collaboration among 14 universities and other higher education institutions. Its main objectives include fostering academic excellence, encouraging research and innovation, and advocating for the interests of higher education institutions.

The council also takes initiatives to enhance the quality of education and support the country’s human resources development. Additionally, it serves as a platform for networking and information sharing among member institutions. Bill Johnson, the current President of Youngstown and a former member of the U.S. Congress representing Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, was the afternoon MC of the Symposium.

Guest speaker Greg Simpson, author of Quantum Contingent and a retired Chief Technology officer, emphasized that using AI in various industries has benefits and challenges. He cautioned against relying too heavily on AI and neglecting traditional human reasoning. Simpson pointed out that before AI became widely used, researchers in universities and private-public entities primarily utilized AI for data analysis and research purposes.

During the panel discussion, these speakers, panelists, and facilitators noted that each industry uses AI to solve complex problems, sparking new possibilities and increasing productivity. For example, AI can help advance research in finance by analyzing large amounts of data and identifying patterns that can inform investment decisions. In the legal field, it can assist with the study and analysis of legal documents and cases, helping to streamline processes and improve accuracy.

The possibility of personalizing learning experiences for students and assisting with grading and feedback is more significant in education. In manufacturing, optimizing production processes and identifying areas for improvement, such as helping with continuous improvement, could help cut costs and eliminate unnecessary overproduction. It can also help with crop monitoring and precision farming, increasing efficiency and better yields.

The Symposium served as a platform for industry experts to share the most up-to-date information with researchers and professionals in the field of STEM. It also highlighted the potential of AI to enhance the dissemination of knowledge on a larger scale while emphasizing the importance of being aware of the potential dangers and negative impacts it may have on our basic human concepts.

“On one hand, AI has the potential to increase efficiency and accuracy, leading to cost savings and improved decision-making. However, it does have its disadvantages, such as concerns about job displacement and the ethical implications of AI,” a panelist member said.

The researchers and experts also discuss how college students can gain the necessary skills to compete in the job market. They engage in discussions where industry experts collaborate on creating data and forming a resource plan to ensure more students are better equipped to compete in the workforce. These executives work to form a coalition, aiming to ensure that before embracing the benefits of AI, individuals learn ethical guidelines and participate in training programs to better equip students with the soft skills needed to navigate the changing job market.

Guest speaker Simpson emphasized the importance of balancing AI’s benefits with caution, warning against relying solely on AI reasoning and overlooking its potential to supplant fundamental human concepts. The conference includes breakout sessions on deep fakes, cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI’s impact on employment and education. University presidents also explored partnerships between academia and industry, driving innovation in AI and ensuring Ohio’s global competitiveness.

“We plan to work across the board to ensure that every potential student understands that they can be users and developers of AI, both in terms of the workforce and future job opportunities. How can we use AI to defend our infrastructure so researchers can use AI to work with different communities?” said Ayanna Howard, the Dean of Engineering at Ohio State University.

Dr. Howard also emphasizes that using AI in the classroom can function as a knowledge teacher, an equalizer, or an information hub, assisting students with various learning styles and aiding the teacher. Howard led an engaging discussion highlighting how Ohio’s public universities are helping lead the State in AI research and strategy.

However, according to a Pew Research publication from May 2024, approximately 35% of high school teachers believe that these tools do more harm than good. This sentiment is shared by 24% of middle school teachers and 19% of elementary school teachers. However, only a small percentage of teachers at all levels believe that these tools have a positive impact, with less than 10% saying they do more good than harm.

The event laid the groundwork for future initiatives to drive innovation and maintain Ohio’s global AI competitiveness by uniting academia and industry experts.

AI critics argue for more transparency in using the technology and raise concerns about potential financial fraud and identity theft. The Department of Finance and the Biden administration are paying attention to these issues, but holding AI users accountable for malicious purposes may take time.

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