Universities must change their philosophy to manage AI, says IISc Director
Professor Govindan Rangarajan advised students at Adani University to control artificial intelligence rather than becoming prompt engines.
Professor Govindan Rangarajan, Director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, spoke at the third convocation of Adani University in Ahmedabad on Saturday. He suggested that the fundamental role of universities must be questioned due to the rise of artificial intelligence.
Rangarajan compared AI to the characters Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, noting that the technology has both a positive and a potentially bad personality. He said AI can act as a patient personal tutor that explains concepts well, which changes how knowledge is imparted.
The IISc Director stated that social interaction and teacher inspiration are aspects AI cannot capture. He urged students not to offload their entire thinking to the technology, saying, "We should not become prompt engines. We should control AI."
Rangarajan also mentioned a recent PHP coding glitch that required IISc to take its websites offline to patch bugs. He noted that bugs are being created at a rapid pace and there is insufficient manpower to patch them properly even with AI tools.
During the ceremony, Adani University conferred 374 degrees in the presence of President Priti Adani. Ten students received academic excellence medals, consisting of five gold, three silver, and two bronze awards.
