Breakfast News - September 2023

Breakfast News on 28 September 2023, was the 3rd AI event that GTI has run over the last 3 years It understandably remains a popular topic in our sector with 150 people registering for the session in London and 800 online.

AI is nothing new. It refers to ‘automated rules-based decisions’ - like a Chatbot or credit score - which have been around for decades. So, what’s changed? It is of course, the sophistication in Generative AI…often including a natural language interface to create output that resembles ‘human-created’ content.

You can access a summary of the event, the slides, speaker and student panel videos by clicking the button below.

Key takeaways...

• So far it’s been a fast-start for students using Generative AI in areas like revision scheduling, facilitating learning and CV improvements but slower adoption by educators and employers.  In a recent ISE survey, only 9% of large employers are currently utilising it. With main uses being to pre-screen candidates, analyse video interviews and screen CVs
• Students would like more guidance from their universities. They receive detailed guidance on plagiarism but in many cases far less detail on the use of AI in learning, assessed work and applying for jobs.
• The applications of Generative AI for employers and educators are wide ranging, from supporting careers guidance, developing skills taxonomies and CV reviews to hiring decision support, providing candidates with feedback, and chat-based reporting.
• The rise of easy-to-use Generative AI tools like ChatGPT is contributing to the rise of skills-based hiring, with human skills being ever more important.  skillsforskills.org.uk outlines skills that support an ‘always on’ approach to the learning and development of new skills to adapt to unknown future needs.
• The increased opportunity for cheating in online assessments is clearly an important topic.  Cappfinitys’s Deter, Design and Detect framework provides some guidance. 
• GTI is supporting the Department for Science, Industry and Technology (DSIT) and the Office for AI (OAI), working with the Office for Students (OfS), to support diverse students to study AI and Data Science at postgraduate level. This programme aims to boost UK innovation and help to reduce the risk of bias in algorithms.
• AI is a force for good, but our sector needs to be eyes wide open and ‘deploy responsibly’. Risks including lack of transparency, algorithmic bias, and "pseudoscientific" software products which need to be understand, mapped and monitored. 

The next Breakfast News will be on 14 December 2023 at 9.30am.

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