On november 23rd, ITAM carried out the Perspective in Computing Seminar: Artificial Intelligence, with the objective of opening up a space for reflection and discussion with an interdisciplinary focus about the opportunities and challenges that the development of AI and its continuously growing importance for human knowledge can generate.
“This Seminar comes to be due to the need of fomenting, learning and helping our students in the deep understanding of AI, data analysis and programming. These three abilities are essential. This is why its necessary to integrate them to ITAM’s common core, for all our academic programs.”, Dr Arturo Fernández pointed out, ITAM’s dean.
The seminar explored how AI has the potential to complement our intelligence and helping us to solve problems that would otherwise be unattainable, such as climate change Nevertheless, as every technology, it also has negative potential, some of it are easy to imagine and prevent, but some others not so.
“We are living a kind of revolution that hasn’t been scripted; being so, we are convinced that we must discuss the possible implications, mostly from a interdisciplinary perspective and that, together, we write the history that we want”, pointed out Fernando Esponda, Head of the Computer Science Division, ITAM.
During the Seminar, several discussion tables took place, in which the experts of the sector shared their perspective on the subject.
Analysis Table: AI and our rights
During the first table, it was discussed that the regulation of AI is key to facing ethical and legal challenges. The speakers highlighted the necessity of a fair approach that warrants benefits for the majority and that takes into account the ethical principles when routing and programming these technologies, remembering that AI has to be in service of people.
The guests pointed out how the fast evolution of AI has raised challenges for its regulation, as it is getting adjusted as it goes. Competition within regulation stands out because the first one that manages to regulate it will gave the advantage of this technology’s limits and capabilities in its favor.
The table was formed by Jorge Cerdio, from ITAM’s Law Department; Alexandra Uribe, from ITAM’s Political Science Department; Pablo Pruneda Gross, from the Legal Research Institute, UNAM; Andrés Gómez de Silva Garza, from ITAM’s Computer Science Department. It was moderated by David Moreno, Department of General Studies, ITAM.
Analysis Table: AI and the future of labor
The following panel approached artificial intelligence from a labor perspective. According to IBM’s Institute for Business Value, 40% of companies in Mexico increased their use of AI in their 2022 processes. There was talk of a possible positive impact in 5 years, due to human continuing to be relevant in job queues. Still, people will need to acquire new abilities so they are able to keep their jobs. Likewise, it was noted that the main risk workers face is adaptability; it is not a matter of replacing hands with machines, but for them to coexist in the same ecosystem, with training that allows collaborators to answer to AI and not be afraid of it.
To achieve this, it is necessary to invest in training and humanities, besides technology; in the education of leaders that know how to guide their employees by boosting their responsibilities and making them see that evolution is constant, because by using AI as a tool, they will acquire knowledge and streamline costs. Nevertheless, for this adaptation to become a reality in countries like Mexico, the gap in the access to opportunities must be reduced, due to ability inducing technology doesn’t reach everyone, the affirmed.
“The process of adopting a technology so transformative and unpredicatble it’s a crucial moment for our society. We will see how this develops in each country and what organisms will make the key choices, how it will help the most economical impacted population and will reveal how our societies work and the fundamental values of our comunities”, Carlo Pizzineli stated. Economical Researcher of the International Monetary Fund.
The analysis table was formed by Rafael González, Department of General Studies, ITAM; Blanca Conesa Labastida, Senior Client Partner, Korn Ferry; Ana Lidia Franzoni Velázquez, Department of Computes Science, ITAM; and Carlo Pizzinelli, Economical Researcher of the International Monetary Fund. It was moderated by Diana Álvarez, Department of Writing and Languages, ITAM.
Analysis table: AI in the economy and businesses
The third analysis table was focused on the accelerated implementation of regulatory standards for the use of AI in economic competition. Currently, there are cases of lawsuits against Amazon for sharing personal data of buyers, among other things.
In terms of ethical standards in AI, there isn’t common ground between creator, user and replicator of content. A data generation without precedents exists, with growth, accumulation and processing that increase exponentially. There is a current need of creating models/algorithms for supervising the performance or behavior of sellers/consumers on the internet, they shared.
Subsequently, they spoked about the generative AI and its important role in the development of new technologies, whereas the main challenges include: adaptation, leadership development and ethical concepts under a homogeneous model of shared responsibility for AI, good use of available technology and the education of data scientists in Mexico.
Another opportunity area for AIs is the role of economists on banks, as responsible for macro analysis data for the decision making of shareholders; the statistical models banks use are built of past data, they don’t show the current nor future situation.
There is a huge impact in business economy due to AI: market valued in 146 billion dollars at the close of 2022. However, problems of lack of equality to access to digital transformation exist, still there are cases of sucess (Start ups like Justo). SMEs lack of leadership abilities and infrastructure for data management, which can lead to competitive disadvantage.
The analysis table was formed by Alejandra Palacios, Former President of the Federal Antitrust Commission; Diego Halffter, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Justo; Juan Pablo Regidor, Chief Innovation Officer at SIATSA; José Carlos González, General Director of Intelimétrica; and José Alberto Incera Diéguez, Department of Computer Science, ITAM. With the moderation of Alfredo Villafranca, Department of General Studies, ITAM.
Analysis Table: AI and global order
During the analysis table, the participants discussed about the impact of artificial intelligence in security and defense in global order. Particularly, they shared the reaches of International Humanitarian Law to reduce violence in armed conflicts. They made an outline of ethical implication and consequences of the AI use as a weapon for people who don’t or no longer participate in combats. They pointed out the importance that technology to free the man from menial tasks and let him focus in the development of social values. Contrary to what might be thought, they agreed and concluded in the possibility of a safer world if AI moves forward in weapon development.
This analysis table was formed by Sergio Estrada Rojas, Director of the Diplomatic Academy at the Matias Romero Institute (SRE); Isaac Morales, Cybersecurity Senior Director at FTI Consulting; José Pantaleón Domínguez, Department of General Studies, ITAM; y Marco Antonio Morales Aguirre, Department of Computer Science, ITAM. It was moderated by Natalia Saltalamacchia Ziccardi, Department of International Studies, ITAM.
To close the seminar, Dr. Fernando Esponda pointed out that artificial intelligence has shown to be a powerful tool. Nevertheless, it is essential to address the challenges and make sure to use it ethically and responsibly. By doing this, we will make the most of the benefits of this technology and shape a future in which it becomes a transformative force for the wellbeing of humanity.
ANUNCIO
