Should people view generative AI tools like ChatGPT with fear or favour? Assoc Prof Loy Hui Chieh called for a measured response at a recent dialogue session with alumni.
Society needs to have a balanced view of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, one that neither overestimates nor underestimates their power. This was a key takeaway at an NUS alumni chat,
The New AI Tools in Our Lives, held at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House on 4 May 2023. The session was led by Associate Professor Loy Hui Chieh (Arts and Social Sciences ’98), who has studied this issue extensively for work and personal interest.
Assoc Prof Loy, who is Vice Dean (Academic Affairs) at the NUS College and Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, describes himself as a “tech geek” at heart, who enjoys exploring how new information and computational technologies can be used in education and beyond. At the same time, he is worried about the problems they could cause, something that he puts down to his background in philosophy.
A nuanced understanding of AI’s potential issues is needed, given its growing prevalence. Assoc Prof Loy highlighted how generative AI tools are already changing the way we work. This applies to academia too, he shared with the audience who had attended in-person and online. Educators are hard at work thinking about how AI tools can enhance the learning process. Some are experimenting with assignments that incorporate them. Others are dreaming about the day — which is not here yet — when AI tools can help them provide initial feedback to student work.
But these advancements also come with a certain risk, as tech companies may not always be forthcoming about how their AI models are trained, raising questions about biases and misinformation. There are also questions about how generative AI might affect young learners, Assoc Prof Loy added. He gave the example of providing a calculator to a young person before teaching them basic maths concepts. “There’s a good chance (the student will) never really understand the concepts. So if you’re a learner, AI may not be the best option at that stage.”
Assoc Prof Loy emphasised the need for continuous discussions about AI within academia and society, so that young people will better understand the importance of using these tools while also realising their limitations. “This is a struggle we’re going to have in education for a long time,” he said.
That is why Assoc Prof Loy, who was part of a committee setting policies governing the use of generative AI at NUS, believes the University will not ban such tools. “That’s not even doable,” he said. “But we want to also remind everyone that we shouldn’t use generative AI as a crutch and short-change our learning.”
Assoc Prof Loy delved into generative AI’s potential beyond education, including in business.
Click here to watch the full session.