MUSCAT: With the emergence and advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various fields, its impact is becoming increasingly evident. This is being noticed widely in academic life and it is a matter of research how AI has influenced students' academic lives and what are their expectations for the future from the technology.
Ali al Balushi, a student at the College of Engineering, who shared his insights says, "I expect that AI will significantly influence the future job market by altering industrial and corporate operations, developing new jobs, and creating employment opportunities in fields like robotics, data analysis, and AI itself."
"On the educational front," he continues, "inclusion of AI lessons in school curricula is crucial. This helps students understand how advanced technology works and its applications across various fields. They can develop skills vital for future job markets, such as analytical thinking, innovation, and problem-solving."
"Like with any new technological advancement, there are always concerns regarding its proper use, social impact, and ethical considerations. We need to adopt a balanced approach that involves developing technology responsibly and raising awareness about the challenges and opportunities associated with it," he said.
According to Al Anoud al Maskari, a student in the Media Department, the impact of AI is inevitable with both positive and negative aspects.
"On the negative side, AI possesses significant capabilities to perform tasks with more accuracy and speed than humans in many fields, potentially leading to the disappearance of certain jobs."
"However, if this technological advancement is implemented correctly, it could have a positive impact by creating new job opportunities in software development, data analysis, and machine learning. The presence of AI in the future will prompt rapid updates in skills and vocational training to align with the capabilities of this technology," she said on AI’s positive side.
"I believe that Artificial Intelligence has ushered in a new era of developments, skills, and tools that were previously unknown. Its inclusion in school curricula is crucial for the educational process to keep pace with technological advancements worldwide. The rapid pace of technological advancement urges us to educate students on how to interact with and optimize it effectively."
Similarly, Ahmed al Farsi, a photojournalist, says "I believe that AI will have a significant impact on the future job market, contributing to increased productivity in various fields such as medicine, engineering, and sciences. For example, in medicine, AI can improve diagnosis and provide better personalised treatments."
“I find it necessary to include AI lessons in the school curriculum, but within certain limits. AI can contribute to supporting the teaching process and providing innovative ways to transfer knowledge. A complete reliance on it must be avoided to prevent reducing interaction between students and teachers, especially in the early grades where children learn interaction and cooperation skills,” he explains.
However, expressing his concern, he adds that, "It’s improper use could lead to significant negative effects. It is important to guide this development positively to ensure its use in ways that enhance social and economic benefits without creating new risks."
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