In this week’s ‘Down the AI Rabbit Hole’ I share some great resources from the Mollicks at the Wharton School of Business. I also make a revelation about my AI journey as it related to Denison and beyond.
Listen to Down the AI Rabbit Hole: Dumbledore’s Army
This week’s tip:
In the last few weeks we got two influential resources from Ethan Mollick of the Wharton School of Business, a leading innovator in generative AI. His new book, Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, is an essential guide for educators on using AI as a transformative co-worker, co-teacher, and coach. It is a concise yet impactful read, and participants in the upcoming AI faculty learning communities will receive a copy. We have a few extra copies at the Center; please contact us if you want one.
On Monday, Mollick and Dr. Lilach Mollick released Instructors as Innovators: a Future-focused Approach to New AI learning Opportunities, With Prompts. This paper introduces innovative AI-based exercises that empower faculty to design personalized, transformative learning experiences, fostering their role as builders and innovators for their students. This will serve as the foundation for our “Artificial Intelligence: Take it to the Next Level” faculty learning community.
My experience with AI: A literary journey
From my column on AI for the Mathematical Association of America, I drew inspiration from Tolkien, adapting the title “There and Back Again” and incorporating a series of really cool (personal opinion) Hobbit-themed, AI-inspired illustrations. At the time, this was because I was wrapping up my first submission while in a Christchurch hotel after spending a two-week sojourn in the South Island of New Zealand, tracing the steps of Peter Jackson’s epic film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
As the column evolved, I discovered my choice of title was more than just a last-minute decision. I came to realize that, like Bilbo Baggins chronicling his unexpected journey, I was initially hesitant to share my experiences with generative AI, wary of how my academic peers might view my foray into this emerging, often controversial field.
More recently, I’ve found another literary parallel that captures the essence of my journey with AI__ Harry Potter. Here’s how it maps out:
Book 1 (November 2022): Much like Harry’s first bewildering encounter with the wizarding world, the release of ChatGPT opened up a new realm for me to explore.
Book 2 (Early Spring Semester 2023): As Harry returns to Hogwarts for his second year, the novelty of the wizarding world fades, much like my initial awe of ChatGPT, which began to show its improved capabilities. Harry realizes his foe has returned, and ChatGPT is getting better; it no longer thinks a spoon can win a race against a turtle.
Book 3 (Summer 2023) The third book deepens the lore of Harry’s world, introducing key figures. Similarly, I began to establish a network of AI colleagues, setting the stage for future collaborations.
Books 4 and 5: (Fall 2023 to Present) In a twist worthy of a Hogwarts saga, as Harry and Dumbledore struggle to convince the wizarding world of Voldemort’s return, I faced a similar challenge with ChatGPT 4.0. Its arrival marked a significant leap forward, yet enthusiasm was lukewarm despite my efforts to rally the academic troops. Our scholarly community, exhausted from the pandemic’s prolonged siege, was wary of wrestling with yet another potentially disruptive enchantment.
To further stretch this literary analogy, academia has versions of the wizarding world’s national newspaper, “The Daily Prophet.” We see headlines like “The Case for Slow-walking Out Use of Generative AI,” “When It Comes to Critical Thinking, AI Flunks the Test,” or the recent “Making Progress Against Chat GPT” downplaying the impacts of generative AI, reminiscent of the dismissive tone adopted during the rise of Voldemort.
Ethan Mollick’s Co-Intelligence reminds us that there is no definitive guide to this technology, and no one fully understands its workings- not Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, nor that Tesla guy. Mollick stresses the importance of direct engagement with AI, recommending at least 10 hours of personal exploration. He warns that without this proactive approach, we risk ceding our agency and decision-making to a few tech executives, effectively outsourcing our role in shaping the future of this transformative technology to a few tech executives.
If you’re interested in exploring this technology further, consider joining the CfLT AI Dumbledore’s Army. We have a few spots left and will meet from 9-10am on Wednesday (5/1) in the Library– just look for the Room of Requirement.