For years I considered myself an early adopter of new technology and innovations. While I still wrote my undergraduate papers on a typewriter, I already used one of the first desktop computers and monitors to write my master’s thesis. When the first handheld devices came out, I was one of the first in my office to have one. And yet over the years, I found myself skipping a generation or two of the latest innovations. There never seemed to be enough time to sort through all the technological advances and applications, to figure out what was useful, necessary, a nice-to-have, or a waste of time and effort. I miss the days where I would just sit down with a good book or article and disconnect from the rest of the world for a while. Perhaps you do too!
And now we have entered a new era of generative artificial intelligence (AI) that seems to be changing fundamentally the relationship between humankind and technology. For now, humans still seem to be in the driver seat, but for how long? Just a few decades ago, one could manage to live life without accessing the world-wide web or going online. Now, if you do not have access to the internet, there is a strong likelihood that you will not be able to access many services essential to daily human life. And with the advent of generative AI and large language models, we face yet another transformation of work, play, and life in general. Every field of inquiry, from the humanities to the natural sciences, every sector of the economy is likely to be impacted by AI. Moreover, we must consider not only the opportunities but also the risks of technological advances. There already has been substantial demand for more skilled labour and expertise in cyber and cloud security across many different sectors. Now we need to add the need for integrated AI competencies, not just in tech fields, but across the board from language studies to general management, from health care to public administration.
So, what does someone like me – a generalist at best – do to keep up?! Consider exploring some of the generative AI tools readily available for free as one step. Beyond that, ºÚÁÏÉç’s School of Continuing Studies, like many other institutions of learning, is expanding the range of opportunities to gain experience with new technologies and generative AI approaches. For example, the new, fully online Master of Science (Applied) in Multilingual Digital Communication, is designed to consider the integration of language technologies with sectors related to translation studies, among others. Most organizations, including ºÚÁÏÉç, have or are establishing principles and guidelines for the use of generative AI. In the future, we will likely see a host of new professional leadership roles focused on applications of AI. Thus, we can anticipate a growth in job opportunities for anyone with skills relevant to AI technologies. In many ways, though, this evolution mirrors the global arms race. Technology often outpaces the laws and processes needed to safeguard humanity. But this intersection between society and technology is also a great opportunity for creativity, for individuals to come together as a community for the benefit of civil society.