The agents are coming

As a naturally curious person, I am interested in how the University is affected by how the world is developing. At the moment, I am particularly interested in the development of artificial intelligence (AI), such as in the form of intelligent digital helpers (also known as agents), which have popped up everywhere at lightning speed.

The power of example is always strong, which is why I asked AI to ‘Write a one-page column titled “The agents are coming” about how AI and technology are rapidly evolving and will affect research, education and administration at a university.’

Reply in 5 seconds

Within 5 seconds, Copilot promptly delivered a response:

‘At a time when technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are evolving at a speed that is almost impossible to keep up with, universities are facing a transformation that will fundamentally change research, education and administration. Once the stuff of science fiction, AI agents are now becoming an integral part of our academic landscape.

Research is one of the areas in which AI has already made significant progress. With the ability to analyse large amounts of data in record time, AI can help researchers identify patterns and correlations that would otherwise go unnoticed. This means that research projects that used to take years to complete can now be finalised in months or even weeks. AI’s ability to predict results and optimise experimental designs will also lead to more accurate and reliable results.

In education, AI will revolutionise the way teaching and learning takes place. Personalised learning assistants, powered by AI, will be able to adapt learning materials to the individual student’s needs and learning style. This will not only improve learning outcomes, but also enable educators to focus on developing more creative and engaging teaching methods. Furthermore, AI will be able to identify students who need extra support and suggest interventions before the problems become too big.

University administration will also benefit from AI. Automating routine tasks such as registration, planning and evaluation will free up time and resources that can be spent on more strategic initiatives. AI-powered systems will be able to analyse data on student performance and well-being, allowing the administration to make informed decisions on policies and programmes. This will lead to a more efficient and responsive administration that can better support both students and staff.

But with this progress comes challenges. Ethical considerations about the use of AI in research and education must be addressed. How do we ensure that AI is used responsibly and does not lead to bias or discrimination? How do we protect privacy and ensure that data is used in a secure and transparent way? These questions require careful consideration and collaboration between researchers, educators, administrators and technology experts.

The agents are coming, and they bring with them a wave of change that will shape the future of universities. By embracing these technological advances while being aware of the challenges they bring, we can ensure that AI becomes a force for positive change in academia. The future is here and it is full of possibilities. Let us approach them with open arms and critical minds.’

And a lazy column writer could end here.

Curious, courageous and critical use of AI at SDU

With the help of AI, I received a quick answer that offers several relevant perspectives on how AI can impact universities in the future.

Perhaps the headline ‘The agents are coming’ is not quite accurate. The agents are already here, and the future will only bring more and better agents.

Many of us are already experiencing this at the University – researchers, lecturers, students, technical staff, administrative staff and managers alike. Many of us at SDU have already embraced AI and have experimented with using artificial intelligence. This is a good thing! Others may be more hesitant about what artificial intelligence can and should be used for. This is good too!

In the autumn, SDU’s Executive Board will discuss a plan for the use of AI at SDU. Based on dialogue with over 40 people at SDU, the plan will provide an overview of the needs, opportunities and risks connected with using AI at the University. The plan will help set a clearer direction for how AI can be used at SDU in the form of a code of conduct, and the plan will include some specific focus areas within research, education and administration – for example, help with writing meeting minutes.

Importantly, however, artificial intelligence cannot stand alone. AI needs humans to provide instructions and guidance for AI to be able to fulfil its tasks. We also have to be active in understanding and interpreting the AI’s responses, which are sometimes generic, impersonal and perhaps even hallucinatory. As humans, we still need to be able to think and express ourselves independently and critically. But AI can be a great digital assistant with the potential to improve efficiency and quality in some areas. So the human will not disappear when the agents arrive.

I hope that we at SDU can take a true academic approach to our encounter with AI: Be curious about how AI can create value for the University, have the courage to test, trial and implement new AI solutions and, not least, apply critical thinking regarding the maturity and pitfalls of the technology.

Let us not fear the agents, but let us embrace the digital helpers with curiosity, courage and critical thinking.