Famous author, academic, and entrepreneur shared with academics, directors, and authorities of the UAG his vision about the world and education that are transformed with the massive use of this technology.
“AI is and will be more efficient in the transfer of knowledge than most professors. Therefore, the role of the educator must evolve to focus on what AI cannot do: build meaningful relationships, make students feel valued, challenge them, and act as mentors.”
This was said by Dr. Paul LeBlanc about the future of the role of the educator, in his talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the world and education, which was attended by academics, directors, and authorities of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), headed by the Rector, Lic. Antonio Leaño Reyes. Dr. Paul LeBlanc was President of Southern New Hampshire University, currently is Co-founder of Matter and Space, author of “Students First: Equity, Access, and Opportunity in Higher Education” (2021) and “Broken: How Our Social Systems Are Failing Us and How We Can Fix Them” (2022), among other positions.
The renowned educator pointed out that the objective of teachers in the AI era is that students feel that they “matter” to the institution in which they study, and this can only happen with authentic, respectful, empathetic, and close interaction from their professors.
In the talk he was accompanied by Dr. Arturo Cherbowski Lask, Executive Director of Santander Universidades and General Director of Universia México, who served as moderator and guide in this talk.
Turning Point
Dr. Paul LeBlanc also mentioned that the urgent challenge for universities is to update their curricula in the face of the arrival of AI, given that the main role of universities is to prepare students for the labor world.
“The challenge is that we use AI to make them smarter. They must provide tools and training both to students and to professors, and establish clear rules about the acceptable use of AI,” he explained.
This, since AI became a turning point. The arrival of ChatGPT in November 2023 was a “catalyst” moment that made many university curricula obsolete overnight.
“AI is now the most powerful knowledge entity on the planet in many areas,” he added.
This is already seen in a radical impact on the labor market. And it is that AI is already surpassing humans in many knowledge jobs. This is evidenced in the increase of unemployment for graduates in computer sciences and layoffs in sectors such as technology and finance. Fields such as marketing and design have completely changed, demanding massive retraining.
“We are seeing AI surpass doctors in some performance tests and we will see dramatic changes in healthcare. The largest bank in Singapore fired 4,000 of its employees and uses AI to do their jobs. Fields such as technology, finance, and insurance, which before were safe bets, now are painted with a question mark,” he exemplified.
The World Economic Forum says that 80 million jobs will be lost due to AI, but 90 million will be created, explained the speaker, since historically technological revolutions eliminated jobs but created new ones.
“It is less likely that this will be so true with this revolution, because the jobs that AI is creating, AI can also do them,” affirmed Dr. Paul LeBlanc.
The Human and AI
However, the academic added that AI still does not have human advantages. The central point of the talk is that machines are experts in prediction, while humans are experts in judgment and empathy.
AI can predict a medical diagnosis, but it is the human who must manage the conversation, the emotional support, and the complex decisions about quality of life. Closeness, authenticity, and human empathy are the key to understanding that technology is a tool.
At the end of this talk, Mtro. Juan Carlos Leaño del Castillo, UAG Administrative Vice Rector, and Dr. Alfonso Petersen Farah, Academic and Health Sciences Vice Rector, delivered a recognition to Dr. Paul LeBlanc and a medal of the 90th anniversary of UAG to Dr. Cherbowsky Lask.
As part of its 90th anniversary, UAG hosted “The Experience By UAG,” where International Program medical students showcased faculty-mentored academic projects and a TED-style talk, highlighting innovation, creativity, and the university’s commitment to world-class medical education.
UAG School of Medicine held a three-day Leadership & Faculty Development Retreat that united academic leaders and faculty to strengthen collaboration, drive curricular innovation, and align on the future of medical education.
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