Va. (WVIR) – In recent weeks, Artificial Intelligence and its rapid growth have returned to the limelight. Some tech leaders, including Claude AI CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have even called for AI model development to slow down
At the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science, faculty say that amid this uncertainty, one of their biggest goals is to ensure students are equipped to keep up with these rapid changes.
“Everyone essentially has a library in their pocket now. So what it means to study and learn, the essence of those activities have changed,” said Interim Dean Jeffrey Blume.
Blume says that while his approach is optimistic, concerns about the rapidly developing pace of AI are acknowledged — and factored into the school’s curriculum.
“I think the concern is legitimate, right? So AI capabilities are advancing very quickly, and faster than we as humans can keep up with, and our social norms and our rules and our laws are usually slow to adapt,” Blume said.
He described artificial intelligence as a revolutionary tool, comparing it to the printing press or the computer. He emphasized that in a world where AI increasingly seems to be the default, it’s important to apply critical thinking about when AI use is actually needed.
“We need to slow down and have people think about — should I do it, rather than can I do it — and think through that,” Blume said.
Ultimately, Blume says he’s optimistic about the road ahead — encouraging people to also look towards its potential to do good.
“It’s a really unique time, and I would just encourage everyone to try and not get overexcited about what bad things could happen… but think about what good things we can do with this new technology, and really focus on making the world a better place,” Blume said.
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