(TNS) — The field of artificial intelligence is growing exponentially, with a similar cultural impact to the advent of the Internet, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown assistant professor of digital humanities Mark DiMauro told area high school students Wednesday.
To help explore the subject, he organized the AI for Everyone seminar for students to examine the ethics and applications of the technology.
“I’m hoping to give you some insight of what the very, very near future will be,” he said.
Dozens of students from Greater Johnstown and Somerset Area high schools took part in the event, hearing from humanities, computer science and cybersecurity professionals.
“I really liked seeing how they brought into light how much it’s being used,” Somerset junior Dean Clark said.
He wants to pursue a career in computer science and was interested to hear about potential jobs in AI that the speakers discussed.
Sha’Kia Young, a Greater Johnstown senior, said listening to the panelists put the pieces of AI together Wednesday was a “great experience.”
She’s dabbled with artificial intelligence in her English class and said she’s interested in the subject, especially the way companies augment their business practices with it.
DiMauro provided a background on artificial intelligence’s growth throughout the past five years and where the field may go in the next five years, and provided a series of questions about its uses, copyright issues and related matters.
He said society is on a technological precipice that, once it goes over, no one can come back from.
However, he added the caveat that just because AI is inevitable does not make it ubiquitous.
Maryl McGinley, a UPJ assistant communications professor who presented, said it’s important to have these conversations, especially with the next generation who are growing up with AI.
She spoke to the group about the significance of the humanities, displaying marketing materials for Beach Plum Farm and Congress Hall, while associate computer science professor Jim Bilitski demonstrated the potential use of AI with a college and university search tool he helped create.
Bilitski showed the students that generative AI can be helpful with routine tasks, such as searching for a post-secondary institution using campusmatch.ai that students can chat with to explore parameters of schools they’re interested in.
Similar tools were discussed by cybersecurity professional Jacob Manotti, who discussed the ability of AI-enhanced camera systems to track and identify parties of interest as well as programs to prevent email phishing schemes.
Despite highlighting the advancements of this technology, each of the speakers stressed that AI should be used to assist a person’s life, not automate it.
“At the end of the day, it’s just data, curiosity and math,” Manotti said.
To wrap up the gathering, the panelists opened the floor for students to ask questions.
Although the conclusion was slow to start, soon the group was having a lively discussion on the subjects presented.
DiMauro said that aspect was fantastic.
“I love the fact that they were so engaged because that means they are future-focused,” he said.
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