A workshop session held at the University of Sharjah on April 30 explored the role of artificial technology (AI) in transforming education services and research writing by academics.

The main speaker at the session was Dr. Abeer Anjum, Assistant Professor in Medical education at Khawaja Muhammad Safdar Medical College in Sialkot, Pakistan, who focused her talk on AI and educational offering and how to employ the technology in scientific research process.

The workshop was an opportunity for organizers, University of Sharjah's College of Medicine, to delve into the burgeoning technology and how tertiary level education currently leans on it to make learning more interactive and interesting for their students.

However, Dr. Anjum noted that the technology, and despite its power to provide invaluable education and research services, still raises eyebrows and concerns.

"AI, artificial intelligence, is a collection of technologies that enable machines to perceive and make decisions like humans. It is like teaching a computer to think and learn on its own," remarked Dr. Anjum.

“Why is there now, all of a sudden, an increase in demand to learn AI tools? Everything is revolving around AI. Everyone wants to learn about it because it's easier and it solves problems faster so it's just like discovering the superpower that can help us in our daily lives."

Dr. Anjum was quick to emphasize that the use of AI is not always a blessing and institutions have to be on their guard when investing in it. “AI wouldn't be replacing us but it would definitely replace those people who don't know how to use it," she said. “It is equally important to learn about it and be more creative and innovative about it because here is a sudden change in innovation technology."

In healthcare, Dr. Anjum highlighted AI's applications in detecting viral outbreaks and facilitating personalized patient care. Referring to medical personnel's fears about the possibility of medical robots making them redundant, she claimed that mastering of AI tools would safeguard their jobs. "When we …  learn all the applications and all the tools that are now being used, this loss (of jobs) will automatically be finished."

Expelling the fears of academics about the security of their careers, Dr. Anjum said AI and its robots could help transform education services, but they have no ability replace the “empathy and emotional contact" humans can bring to the classroom.

She said she viewed AI's presence as assisting rather than replacing workforce, and that the robots coming with it will be there to extend a helping hand to existing staff. "AI is here to assist you," she affirmed.

Dr. Anjum urged universities to master the use of AI tools first to have them under control and then carry out their research objectives. "By trying one or two tools, you can gain mastery on it," she advised, emphasizing the importance of experimentation in leveraging the technology effectively.

She cited ChatGPT, SciSpace, Perplexity, Elicit, Consensus, among others, as AI tools which scientists can resort to when conducting research and polishing their writing. “AI can automate repetitive tasks such as data cleaning, interpretation, and then accelerate the research process, freeing up time for researchers to focus on higher level analyses."

Facilitating the research process is a benefit which scientists need to handle cautiously, Dr. Anjum warned, pointing to numerous adverse implications that may occur if AI is employed recklessly. “Do not blindly rely on AI generated content as you will be held responsible."

The technology is nascent, she said, hence the need to address issues related to ethics like “data privacy [which] has a very valid concern of who has access to this data. Personal data such as learning styles, your social interactions, your patterns, your collected data … There is a very valid concern of who has access to this data."

Dr. Abeer Anjum cited ChatGPT, SciSpace, Perplexity, Elicit, Consensus, among others, as AI tools which scientists can resort to when conducting research and polishing their writing.



Image Credit: Pixabay