The new landscape of the working world and how to merge technical skills with human creativity and ethics formed part of the discussions at the recent seminar, ‘How is AI shaping and reshaping your environments and your future of work in the age of AI’ hosted by Mandela University’s Faculty of Humanities’ Digital Humanities Hub.
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From left, Dr Janelle Vermaak-Griessel (HoD Media and Communication), Dr Jacqui Lück (Deputy Dean Faculty of Humanities), Nkululeko Mkosana (Learning and Teaching, Faculty of Humanities): Dr Gabby Dlamini (Digital Anthropologies lecturer); Dr Vuyelwa Jacobs (Public Relations lecturer); Jonathan van der Walt (Sculpture lecturer); Styli Charalambous (Co-founder and CEO of The Daily Maverick); Dr Johannes Sibeko (Digital Humanities Hub); Thomas Terblanche (History lecturer) and Jude Mathurine (New Media lecturer)
“In a world where AI is on the increase, we are equipping students with critical thinking skills. And exploring what it means to be human in an increasing digital world,” said Executive Dean of Humanities Prof Pamela Maseko.
The discussion was led by Mandela University graduates and alumni, Styli Charalambous, the co-founder and CEO of Daily Maverick, Jackson Tshabalala, project manager at Tangible Africa and Jonathan van der Walt, sculptor and lecturer, all working in the field of humanities at the cutting edge of AI.
Deputy Dean of Humanities Dr Jacqui Lück encouraged the students to attend the offered seminars, talk shops and masterclasses, all aimed to equip Mandela students in navigating the AI landscape. These include discussions on how to merge technical skills with human creativity, and critical thinking about the impact of technology on humans and ethics.
Students were encouraged that AI needed to be used as a tool and not a replacement of human creativity and empathy.
BA graduate Jackson said AI has an evolving role and should move from mere tools to teammates. He also noted that the Humanities provide critical thinking, ethical frameworks and context for AI.
Jonathan van der Walt stated that artists should view AI as a partner. He also said that there is ongoing discussion in the artistic world about who is considered the author of an artwork, since the advent of technology and now AI.
According to Styli, while the journalism industry is going through a massive disruption and roughly 70 percent of jobs have been lost, AI cannot replace the work of journalists. Instead, he encouraged students to look at the potential and opportunity of AI, not the negatives, like using AI as a tool to help upskill and assist with research.
Styli also hosted a masterclass for invited Gqeberha media representatives, encouraging them to shift news from being a mere reporting commodity, to becoming more of a service, adding value to the society they are serving.
He relayed the journey towards the success of the Daily Maverick, his South African online news publication and weekly print newspaper, started in 2009.
He explained how they used strategy to help decide the themes which govern their reporting.
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Safety and belonging
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Accountability
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Sustainable world
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Learning and education
Furthermore, he encouraged the media to ask themselves the question: ‘who are we serving and what are their needs’?