In the face of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, universities need to ramp up their AI literacy skills and work together, as well as across sectors, to make the most of the AI revolution instead of being overwhelmed by it, says a new report by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU).
"AI represents a structural shift, not a passing trend and coordinated action across all levels will be essential to harness its benefits while upholding the core mission and values of higher education," reads the 29-page report, titled Charting a Path Forward for Ontario Universities in the Age of AI. It was written by a seven-member task force of the COU, made up of executive and senior university leaders, most with portfolios specific to digital technologies.
The report is intended to guide the province's universities in the safe, ethical and strategic integration of AI, while graduating students equipped to work with AI in their careers.
Artificial intelligence in universities is "moving so fast, it's confusing, and everyone's trying to keep up," said task force chair Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo, after the report's May 29 launch at a luncheon for 470 attendees hosted by The Empire Club of Canada at Toronto's Fairmont Royal York hotel.
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