Five tips to maximize student expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to benefit your organization
By: Matthew King (he/him)
Panel discussion highlights key employer takeaways on the future of work and AI.
Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) at the University of Waterloo recently hosted industry partners to celebrate the launch of a new AI job aggregator and digital assistant (JADA). Dr. Norah McRae, associate provost of CEE, moderated a panel discussion about the future of work as it relates to the adoption of AI. The industry experts had several insights for employers to consider as they implement AI tools.
Here are five key takeaways:
1. “It’s Co-pilot, not auto-pilot.”
"Human skills are elevating in importance. It is critical to remind ourselves to invest in human skills like innovation and creativity. Human oversight is really important," says Dr. Elka Walsh, Americas higher education transformation lead at Microsoft.
2. AI gives you a great basecoat
“There is a big difference in how you use AI. I need a basecoat; I need something to work from based on some of the great prompts that I need to complete a task. And then it is still not done, I need to vet it and review it,” says Aaron Wilson, vice president of marketing and sales at ECO Canada. “You need to be able to work well with people – (AI) supplements people’s work. It’s not going to just be what you do; it’s going to be a tool you can use. Building the actual expertise in an area is still important. Then you can supplement with AI.”
3. The ability to ask a really good question is vital
“We have been trained, in a historical way of learning, to know the answer. Now we have to be able to ask a really good question, and that is the prompting of the AI,” says Dr. Walsh. “The six students we had working on JADA asked really good questions as we were developing out the prototype and brought a whole different way of thinking about it.”
4. Embrace the fresh perspective students bring to your organization
“Organizations, whether it’s government or the private sector, are often resistant to change. At the same time, we are always focused on the next crisis. So, when a co-op student comes in, they can bring a fresh perspective. They don’t have the baggage, so they have the time to showcase how projects can embrace AI with very little risk,” says Mina Riad, Job Bank product manager, Employment and Social Development Canada.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for students to come into the workplace with some insight and skills as early adopters. If they come in with a great education and some insights, they’re going to be able to change culture and processes at organizations that will have huge, positive, ripple effects," says Wilson.
5. The ability to be agile and learn will become essential for all organizations
“The technology is moving rapidly. New graduates are learning it as it is coming and that’s the best part, they are in a learning mode. We are in this motion of constantly learning what is possible, taking advantage and acting on what is possible. That is the opportunity for students: to come in with this new perspective and an understanding of the new tools, being in learning mode and helping us become learning organizations,” says Dr. Walsh.
As AI continues to reshape the future of work, the insights shared by these industry leaders highlight the importance of organizations embracing adaptability, curiosity and the fresh perspectives that students bring. By maximizing student expertise in AI, employers not only future proof their organizations, but also empower the next generation of talent to drive meaningful innovation.