The Role of AI in Higher Education: Interview with Kelly Okimoto, UIC Web Developer
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education introduces transformative opportunities alongside notable challenges. While AI-powered tools promise personalized learning experiences and streamlined administrative processes, concerns regarding data privacy, algorithmic bias, and more may arise.
Additionally, ensuring equitable access to AI technologies and fostering digital literacy among students and faculty are critical challenges that institutions must address. Balancing the benefits of AI with ethical considerations and addressing these challenges will be pivotal in realizing the full potential of AI in higher education.
In this spotlight interview with UIC Technology Solutions' Marketing & Communications Strategist Anthe Mitrakos, UIC Web Developer Kelly Okimoto, shares insight on the role AI plays in education and the IT workforce.
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I use AI as an unreliable consultant, whose results I must always vet for accuracy…finding the “right answer” is not as important as understanding how to arrive at that answer, which is vital to the learning process; we are an institute of higher learning, so my belief is that the emphasis on critical thinking skills can help abate some concerns about misuse of artificial technology.
| Technology Solutions Web Developer
Spotlight Interview with UIC Web Developer Kelly Okimoto Heading link
Anthe Mitrakos: What role should AI play in higher education and in your area of work?
Kelly Okimoto: AI is not yet reliable enough to be considered a trustworthy source of information, so the use of AI as a research tool is only as effective as its user’s proficiency in thoroughly vetting its results. In that regard, if the user is able to consistently verify AI results, AI can be an invaluable asset if implemented in the role of a consultant – a hyper-advanced solution-oriented consultant that draws from the sum of most of all human knowledge, that is. While its ability to reason and hypothesize in the user’s intended context can be somewhat lacking, AI can be quite useful in higher education and web development (my area of work). Thats said, it’s important that we not over inflate its value and veracity, as some unfortunate professionals thrust into the national media spotlight have recently discovered.
A.M.: How has your experience with AI been so far either directly or indirectly?
K.O.: I use ChatGPT almost daily in the role I described above: as an unreliable consultant. As many developers have discovered by now, I have learned ChatGPT’s veracity wanes as the level of complexity of questions increases, so I have gotten in the habit of scrutinizing its more complex answers more closely. In nearly every instance where I took its suggestions at face value, I have had to re-investigate due to inaccuracies, outdated standards or techniques, misunderstanding of the original query, or (on occasion) what I can only describe as outright insanity. Like I said, AI’s veracity at this point and time must always be considered suspect, and its results equally scrutinized.
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I think the online chatter about AI rebelling and usurping homo sapiens’ role as the dominant force on this planet is a bit premature, but the concerns should not be dismissed outright. There’s an inherent danger that accompanies concepts and tangibles we don’t fully understand and/or cannot control, so it is my personal belief that we should not equate prudence with regression or the stifling of technological advancement.
| Technology Solutions Web Developer
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A.M.: What are your concerns or reservations about integrating AI into the classroom or higher education?
K.O.: I work primarily in the technical arm of higher ed, so I’m not sure I am qualified to speak with authority on the subject of AI in the classroom; however, I would be wary of over-reliance on AI by both faculty and students, especially students. In my opinion, finding the “right answer” is not as important as understanding how to arrive at that answer, which is vital to the learning process; we are an institute of higher learning, so my belief is that the emphasis on critical thinking skills can help abate some concerns about misuse of artificial technology.
I think the online chatter about AI rebelling and usurping homo sapiens’ role as the dominant force on this planet is a bit premature, but the concerns should not be dismissed outright. There’s an inherent danger that accompanies concepts and tangibles we don’t fully understand and/or cannot control, so it is my personal belief that we should not equate prudence with regression or the stifling of technological advancement. We’ll all have our own personal “Jarvis” one day; we just have to make sure it won’t evolve into an “Ultron.” It’s also in the general public’s interest to educate themselves on who is developing these AI constructs, for whom, and to what end.
A.M.: How do you see the relationship between educators and AI evolving in the future? Do you think AI could potentially replace some aspects of teaching, or do you believe it will primarily serve as a tool to support educators?
K.O.: For now, I think AI will serve as a tool to support educators; it’s not sophisticated enough to warrant fears of replacement in the short term. We’d be wise to anticipate further evolution of AI’s capabilities, as I believe there is potential to replace educators in some capacity in the long term. We may not see instructors being outright replaced out of the blue, but integration of AI as a supplementary element – and then in lieu of – graduate assistants, is a potential indicator that AI’s role as primary educator may arrive sooner rather than later.
A.M.: How do you think AI can contribute to research and innovation in higher education? Are there any particular fields or disciplines where AI has the potential to make significant advancements?
I think AI has potential to make significant advancements in areas where its performance outpaces its human counterparts, such as analysis of complex data sets. There are some things we just can’t do, so that’s where the true value of AI currently lies.