Adapting change: reskilling and upskilling for AI integration in education

A number of companies have started laying off people, claiming that they are now using AI to do the work that they were doing.

Written by Guest

January 19, 2024 09:52 IST

There are dark mutterings that some of this is a smokescreen; companies are cost-cutting for other reasons, but putting the blame on AI.

By Jaspreet Bindra

2022 was the year which brought AI to the common person, when OpenAI launched ChatGPT, which notched up a hundred million users in just two months. The beginning of 2023 was dominated by the excitement generated by this almost human-like bot, and the many others springing up almost every day. The second half of 2023, however, was more about the concerns raised by this powerful technology, including deep fakes, bias, privacy, copyright issues and the looming threat of superintelligence. While all of these are valid concerns, the one that seems to be leading the discourse currently is what AI and GenAI will do to jobs.

A number of companies have started laying off people, claiming that they are now using AI to do the work that they were doing. It started early in 2023, with Buzzfeed laying off about 12% of its workforce, saying that GenAI could do the copywriting work that its former employees were doing. But this really gained momentum, with Google, Amazon and others announcing thousands of potential layoffs as they simultaneously ramped up their AI efforts. While the employees were obviously unhappy, the stock markets celebrated this double-benefit of cost reduction and AI adoption.

There are dark mutterings that some of this is a smokescreen; companies are cost-cutting for other reasons, but putting the blame on AI. Some of it might be true, however, it is impossible to ignore the fact that work and jobs will change forever. Thus, it is imperative that the workers of the future re-skill or upskill themselves to face the inevitable. For that to happen, countries need to relook at their education system, institutions and reskill or upskill the educators and administrators, so that they can produce students with the right skills and mindset to tackle this brave new world.

This is essential for educators to remain relevant and effective in an AI-enhanced educational landscape. This involves not just learning to use new tools, but also understanding the underlying principles of AI and its implications for teaching and learning. Reskilling empowers educators to shift from traditional methods to more dynamic, AI-driven approaches, ensuring that they are not displaced by technology but enhanced by it. Beyond reskilling, we need to upskill them. It enables educators to leverage AI for creative and innovative teaching practices. It involves acquiring advanced skills to utilise AI in developing more engaging, interactive, and effective learning environments. Upskilling helps educators to become not just users of AI tools, but innovators who can shape the future of education.

This is not without its challenges. There would be constraints on budgets, the natural resistance to change, and bridging the digital divide. Thus these reskilling and upskilling initiatives will need strategic planning, adequate funding, and policy support to address these challenges. Above it all it needs the right mindset and a proactive approach on the part of the government. It needs to be a collective endeavour that requires the participation of educators, policymakers, tech experts, and learners. Reskilling and upskilling are not just about staying abreast of technological trends; they are about reimagining and revitalising education for a future where AI and human intelligence work in tandem; where AI works as a copilot, but the agency is always with the human. By embracing this change, educators can unlock unprecedented potential in teaching and learning, preparing students not just for the jobs of the future, but for a world where adaptability, continuous learning, and innovation are the keys to success.