Unlocking the potential of AI in higher education | Neural Nexus Daily Episode 04

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize higher education by personalizing learning and automating administrative tasks. However, its successful implementation requires a balanced approach that acknowledges its limitations. AI cannot replace essential human skills like emotional intelligence, creativity, and adaptability. Therefore, the focus must be on leveraging AI as a tool to augment, not replace, human intellect.

As AI reshapes the future of work, universities must adapt their curricula to emphasize these uniquely human competencies. This technological shift extends beyond software to the physical campus, where the Internet of Things (IoT) can create "smart campuses" that improve efficiency and the student experience.

The most significant challenge lies in navigating the ethical landscape. Issues of data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency are paramount. Higher education has a critical responsibility to instill a strong ethical foundation in the next generation of AI professionals and to contribute to the development of fair and responsible regulations.

Practically, AI is already being used to create personalized learning paths, automate grading to free up educators for more meaningful mentorship, and provide detailed analytics to identify and support at-risk students, thereby improving retention.

The recent emergence of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has disrupted traditional assessments, forcing educators to innovate. Rather than banning these tools, institutions are adapting by redesigning courses to include more oral exams and group work, and teaching students how to use AI critically and ethically. This requires updating academic integrity policies to reflect the new technological reality.

Ultimately, the path forward is responsible integration. By embracing AI thoughtfully, higher education can enhance learning outcomes and prepare students for a future where human and artificial intelligence collaborate, all while reinforcing the timeless value of critical thinking and human creativity.

#LIBCAST, #NeuralNexusDaily,#AIinEducation,#HigherEd, #EdTech, #FutureofWork, #AIEthics, #PersonalizedLearning, #GenerativeAI, #SmartCampus

University librarians are divided over AI use and ethics | Neural Nexus Daily Episode 03

Welcome to LIBCAST, the podcast for library professionals navigating the future. And you’re listening to our special series, Neural Nexus Daily, where we track the intersection of information, education, and artificial intelligence.

Today, we’re diving into a fascinating new survey that’s sending ripples through the academic library community. The headline? University librarians across the United States are deeply, and I mean deeply, divided over the use and ethics of AI.

The survey, conducted by software development company Helper Systems, paints a picture not of consensus, but of a profession at a crossroads. We have everything from enthusiasm to outright opposition. As one librarian bluntly put it, we might be "educating intelligent youngsters towards dummies." Strong words. So, let's unpack the data.

The report, titled “AI in Higher Education: The librarians’ perspectives,” was based on a survey of 125 academic librarians across the US, from institutions like Texas Tech to the University of California.

And the first major finding is about adoption. Or rather, the lack of it. A surprising two-thirds of the academic libraries surveyed do not offer any AI products to researchers. Only a slim 13% currently do, with another 24% considering it.

But the real division emerges when we talk about ethics. This is the core of the debate. The survey asked a simple question: is it cheating if students use AI products for research?

The answers were split right down the middle. Exactly 50% of librarians said no, it is not cheating. On the other side, 8% gave a definitive 'yes', while a significant 42% felt it was ‘somewhat true’.

This ‘somewhat’ seems to hinge on context. Using ChatGPT to write an entire paper and pass it off as your own? Clearly cheating. But using an AI to generate data sets that a student then analyzes and interprets? Many see that as a legitimate use of a new tool. As one participant noted, what’s appropriate in biological research might not be in the social sciences.

Interestingly, while 8% of librarians believe student AI use is cheating, that number jumps to 12% when asked if it's unethical for professors to use AI for research. A subtle but telling difference.

The report is filled with quotes that truly capture the spectrum of opinion. You have the pragmatists, with one librarian stating, “Once the genie is out of the bottle, you can’t put it back in, so you just have to find a way to grapple with the new reality.”

That sentiment is echoed by tech leaders like Bill Gates, who recently called AI developments “every bit as important as the PC, as the internet.”

Christopher Warnock, the CEO of Helper Systems which conducted the survey, seems to agree. He told University World News, “There is no doubt that AI in higher education is here to stay.” He stresses that librarians, professors, and publishers need to work together to ensure students use these tools ethically, without impeding critical thinking.

And this survey landed just a day before OpenAI released GPT-4, a far more powerful model that can process images and up to 25,000 words of text. The pace of change is relentless, which makes this conversation even more urgent.

But there is also a clear thread of optimism. One of the most hopeful comments came from a librarian who sees promise in AI’s ability to, quote, “replace manual, librarian-led literature searching and systematic reviews... I see AI as a faster, more efficient solution to what is now a very hands-on, time-consuming process.”

Freeing up librarians for more detailed, complex research support. Perhaps that’s the future. Not a replacement for librarians, but a powerful, if controversial, new tool in our toolkit.

The genie is indeed out of the bottle. The question now is, what do we do with its power?

#Libraries, #HigherEd, #Librarians, #Podcast, #AIEthics, #ChatGPT, #AcademicIntegrity, #FutureOfEducation

Gemma 3: Google launches its latest open AI models

Google has launched Gemma 3, the latest version of its family of open AI models that aim to set a new benchmark for AI accessibility.

Built upon the foundations of the company’s Gemini 2.0 models, Gemma 3 is engineered to be lightweight, portable, and adaptable—enabling developers to create AI applications across a wide range of devices.

This release comes hot on the heels of Gemma’s first birthday, an anniversary underscored by impressive adoption metrics. Gemma models have achieved more than 100 million downloads and spawned the creation of over 60,000 community-built variants. Dubbed the “Gemmaverse,” this ecosystem signals a thriving community aiming to democratise AI.

“The Gemma family of open models is foundational to our commitment to making useful AI technology accessible,” explained Google.#Gemma3, #GoogleAI, #OpenAIModels, #AIAccessibility, #GenerativeAI, #Gemmaverse, #AIDevelopment, #AITools, #GoogleAIEdge, #EthicalAI, #TextAnalysis, #WorkflowAutomation, #VisualAnalysis, #LightweightAI

Transcript:

Have you ever scrolled through your social media feed and thought, "Who even moderates all this stuff?" Or, perhaps, you've seen something truly awful and wondered why it wasn't taken down immediately. The truth is, the internet is a vast, wild west of content, and keeping it safe is a Herculean task. So, the big question on everyone's mind is: Can Artificial Intelligence, our digital superhero, finally solve the content moderation problem?

How AI Assists in Content Moderation:

Let's be clear: AI is already playing a massive role in content moderation, and for good reason. Think about the sheer scale. Billions of pieces of content are uploaded every single day. There aren't enough human moderators on the planet to review it all.

This is where AI shines. It brings scale and speed that humans simply can't match. AI algorithms can process vast amounts of text, images, video, and audio in real-time, identifying and flagging potentially harmful content at lightning speed. This allows for proactive detection, catching inappropriate content even before it's widely seen or reported.

Another huge benefit is consistency. AI systems apply moderation rules uniformly across all content, reducing the subjectivity and potential bias that can creep in with human interpretation. This also significantly reduces the burden on human moderators. By automating the detection of clear-cut violations – think child pornography or spam – AI frees up humans to focus on the truly complex, nuanced cases that demand human judgment and empathy. This is crucial for protecting the mental well-being of the human teams.

AI can be trained to identify a wide range of harms, from hate speech and toxic language using Natural Language Processing, to misinformation by analyzing patterns and sources, and even graphic or violent content through image and video recognition. Plus, AI models are constantly learning and adapting, meaning they can keep up with the ever-evolving tactics used by malicious actors.

Limitations and Challenges of AI in Content Moderation:

The biggest challenge is contextual understanding. Humans use sarcasm, humor, slang, and cultural references that AI often completely misses. A phrase that's perfectly benign in one context could be deeply offensive in another, and AI can easily misinterpret these subtleties, leading to frustrating false positives or, worse, missing truly harmful content.

Then there's the issue of bias in training data. AI models are only as good as the data they learn from. If that data is biased, the AI will inherit and perpetuate those biases, leading to unfair or discriminatory moderation decisions. And let's not forget, malicious actors are always finding new ways to bypass AI filters, constantly evolving their language and imagery. This means AI models require continuous updates and retraining just to keep pace.

Finally, there's the "black box" problem. Many AI models are so complex that it's difficult to understand exactly why they made a particular decision. This lack of transparency can erode user trust and make it incredibly challenging to appeal decisions or identify algorithmic biases. AI can identify keywords or images, but discerning the intent behind the content? That's often beyond its current capabilities.

The Hybrid Approach and Conclusion:

AI does the heavy lifting, quickly scanning and filtering vast amounts of content, automatically removing clear violations, or flagging suspicious content. But anything that requires complex contextual understanding or ethical judgment is then escalated to human moderators for review and a final decision. Humans also play a crucial role in training the AI models and refining the moderation policies that guide them.

#AICanDoIt, #AIContentMod, #ContentModeration, #AIAndHumans, #DigitalSafety, #OnlineCommunity, #TechForGood, #FutureOfAI, #SocialMediaSafety, #HateSpeech, #Misinformation, #Cybersecurity, #DigitalEthics, #NeuralNexusDaily, #Libcast, #thelibrarypodcast

The new daily series from the University of Kelaniya's "Libcast - The Library Podcast," titled "Neural Nexus Daily," is set to explore the dynamic intersection of neuroscience, technology, and knowledge. This segment aims to provide bite-sized, thought-provoking content that delves into how our brains process information in the digital age, the future of learning, and the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies.

Hosted by the prestigious Library of the University of Kelaniya, the first university library in Sri Lanka to launch a podcast, "Neural Nexus Daily" seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and everyday life. The series is designed to be accessible to a broad audience, from students and faculty to lifelong learners and anyone curious about the future of human intellect.

#NeuralNexusDaily, #Libcast, #UniversityOfKelaniya, #LibraryPodcast, #PodcastLK, #SriLanka, #Neuroscience, #Technology, #AI, #FutureOfLearning, #BrainScience, #HigherEducation, #ScienceCommunication, #ListenNow

Plagiarism for Beginners: A Guide to Proper Citation

Episode Summary Transcript:

Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s super important for anyone doing research, writing papers, or even just sharing information online: plagiarism. And don't worry, we're going to break it down for beginners, so you'll leave here feeling much more confident.

So, what exactly is plagiarism? In simple terms, it's taking someone else's work or ideas and presenting them as your own, without giving them proper credit. Think of it like this: if you bake a delicious cake using your grandma's secret recipe, but then tell everyone you invented the recipe, that's kind of like plagiarism in the kitchen!

It’s not always about intentionally trying to cheat. Sometimes, students plagiarize accidentally because they don't understand how to properly cite sources or paraphrase effectively. And that’s totally okay – we’re here to learn!

Why is it such a big deal? Well, for a few key reasons. First, it’s a matter of academic integrity. Universities and schools want to make sure the work you submit genuinely reflects your own understanding and effort. Second, it's about respecting intellectual property. Just like you wouldn't steal someone's physical belongings, you shouldn't steal their intellectual creations. And finally, plagiarizing robs you of the opportunity to truly learn and develop your own critical thinking and research skills.

Now, let's talk about the common types of plagiarism you might encounter, and more importantly, how to avoid them.

The most obvious type is direct plagiarism, which is copying and pasting text word-for-word without quotation marks or a citation. Imagine you're writing a paper and you find a perfect sentence on a website. If you just drop it into your essay without putting it in quotes and telling your reader where you got it from, that's direct plagiarism.

Then there's paraphrasing plagiarism. This happens when you take someone else's ideas and rephrase them in your own words, but you don't give credit. Even if you don't use their exact words, the idea still belongs to them, so you need to cite your source. A good paraphrase completely reworks the original sentence structure and word choice, while still giving credit.

Another one is mosaic plagiarism, which is a bit sneakier. It's when you stitch together phrases and sentences from different sources without proper citation, often mixing in a few of your own words. It's like taking bits and pieces from various sources and trying to make them look like your own original thought.

So, how do we avoid these pitfalls? It boils down to one golden rule: When in doubt, cite it out!

Here are three simple tips for beginners:

1. Always keep track of your sources: When you’re doing research, make notes of where you found information – the author, title, publication date, and page number or URL. This will save you so much hassle later.

2. Use quotation marks for direct quotes: If you're using someone's exact words, put them in quotation marks. And immediately after the quote, add a citation indicating where it came from.

3. Paraphrase and summarize properly: When you put information into your own words, make sure you're truly rephphrasing, not just changing a few words. And even when paraphrasing, you still need to cite the original source!

Many institutions use citation styles like APA, MLA, or Chicago. Don’t get overwhelmed by them just yet. The important thing is to understand the principle of giving credit. Your school library, like ours, and even websites like Purdue OWL, have fantastic resources to help you with specific citation styles.

The good news is, avoiding plagiarism is a skill you can absolutely learn. It shows that you're a responsible researcher and that you value the hard work of others.

#plagiarism #onlinesafety #paraphrasing #digitalworld #thelibraryuok #libcast #libcastthelibrarpodcast #webrarian #uokwebrarian #kasunmunasinghe

Ever wonder what "digital literacy" really means for you? In this LIBCAST episode, we explain why understanding the digital world is crucial for everyone. From smart searching to online safety, unlock the power of digital literacy and navigate the internet with ease.

#digitalliteracy #onlinesafety #internet #digitalworld #thelibraryuok #libcast #libcastthelibrarpodcast #webrarian #uokwebrarian #kasunmunasinghe

Episode Summary Transcript:

What is Digital Literacy

Now, you might hear "digital literacy" and think, "Oh no, complicated tech stuff!" But really, it's just about feeling comfortable and confident in our digital world. Think about it: so much of our lives now happen online, right? From talking to friends and family, to finding information, to even doing our shopping.

So, what exactly is digital literacy? In simple terms, it's the ability to find, understand, use, and create information using digital tools – like your phone, a tablet, or a computer. It's also about knowing how to be safe and responsible online.

Let's break it down into a few key areas.

First, there's finding information. We all use search engines like Google, right? But digital literacy helps you go beyond just the first few results. It's about knowing how to tell if a website is reliable, or if the information you're reading is true. It's like being a detective for facts!

Then, there's communicating online. Email, messaging apps, social media – these are all ways we connect. Digital literacy means understanding how to use these tools effectively and politely. It also means being aware of who you're talking to and what information you're sharing.

Next, and this is a big one, is online safety. This includes things like creating strong passwords, being careful about what links you click on, and understanding privacy settings. We want to enjoy all the wonderful things the internet offers without falling for scams or putting our personal information at risk. It's like wearing your seatbelt when you're in a car – just a smart thing to do!

And finally, it's about creating and sharing. This could be anything from writing an email, to uploading a photo, to even making a little video. Digital literacy empowers you to participate in the online world, not just observe it.

So, why is "Digital Literacy for All" so important? Well, in today's world, not having these skills can really hold you back. It can make it harder to find a job, access services, or even just stay connected with loved ones. On the flip side, having good digital literacy opens up so many doors! It empowers you to learn new things, explore your interests, and participate fully in our modern society.

And here's the good news: you don't have to be a tech wizard to be digitally literate! It's a journey, not a destination. And your local library, like ours, is a fantastic place to start or continue that journey. We have resources, programs, and friendly staff who can help you learn everything from basic computer skills to navigating online privacy. Don't be shy – come ask us!

So, whether you're just starting out with a smartphone or you want to brush up on your online safety, remember that digital literacy is for everyone. It's about empowering yourself to thrive in our connected world.

That's all for this episode of LIBCAST – The Library Podcast. Thank you for joining me on "Webrarian" Episode 1. We'll be back soon with more insights and tips. Until then, keep exploring, keep learning, and stay digitally savvy!

පර්යේෂණ සහ අධ්‍යාපනික උපකරණ වල නවතම තොරතුරු ගෙන එන අපගේ පොඩ්කාස්ට් එක වෙත සාදරයෙන් පිළිගන්නවා. අද අපි කතා කරන්නේ සොටෙරෝ (Zotero) නමැති විශිෂ්ට මාර්ගගත උපකරණය ගැනයි.

Visit: https://library.kln.ac.lk/index.php/e-collection/the-library-podcast/digital-dreamscape⁠⁠⁠

#zotero #digitaldreamscape #thelibraryuok #libcast #libcastthelibrarpodcast #zoterocitation

අද අපි කතා කරන්නෙ Buddha's Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom පොත ගැන.

මනසත් මොළයත් කියන්නේ අපි හැමදාම භාවිතා කරන දේවල්. නමුත් සමහර විට ඒ ගැන අපි වැඩි කල්පනාවක් කරන්නේ නැහැ, නේද? ඔබේ හැඟීම්, සිතුවිලි, තීරණ වැනි හැම දෙයකම මූලික අපේ මනස සහ මොළය. අද අපි හරි සැහැල්ලුවෙන් සහ සරලවම මේ දෙක පිළිබඳ කුඩා කතාබහකට යොමු වෙමු.

https://library.kln.ac.lk/index.php/e-collection/the-library-podcast/plusbook

#plusbook #thelibraryuok #libcast #projectlibcast #buddha'sbrain #bookreview

අද අපි කතා කරන්න යන්නේ Grok ගැන. Grok කියන්නේ xAI විසින් නිර්මාණය කරපු AI චැට්බොට් එකක්. ඒ කියන්නේ, කෘත්‍රිම බුද්ධිය භාවිතා කරලා මිනිසුන්ට ප්‍රශ්න අහන්න, උදව් ඉල්ලන්න පුළුවන් තාක්ෂණයක්. මේක ආරම්භ කළේ Elon Musk විසින්, ඔබ දන්නවනේ, Tesla සහ SpaceX වගේ සමාගම්වල හිමිකරු. Grok තවමත් beta අවධියේ තමයි තියෙන්නේ, ඒ කියන්නේ, තවමත් පරීක්ෂණ අවධියේ. නමුත්, ඒක බොහෝ දේවල්වලට උදව් කරන්න පුළුවන්. අද අපි බලමු Grok ගැන වැඩි විස්තරයක්.

Visit: https://library.kln.ac.lk/index.php/e-collection/the-library-podcast/digital-dreamscape⁠⁠

#grok #digitaldreamscape #thelibraryuok #elonmusk #xAI #x #twitter #grok3