The Role of AI in Mobilizing Future Generations: Opportunities and Risks

In June, The World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) was invited to attend the Global Minded Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, to discuss how human security, AI and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) can help build a brighter, more resilient future for students.

A panel on the theme of “Human Security for All,” moderated by Grant Schreiber, General Manager of WAAS,  explored how technology and AI are influencing future job opportunities, how young people should embrace AI in a fast-changing environment, and the risks and opportunities they face.

Walt Stinson, CEO of ListenUp, Chairman of the ProSource Group, and a tech pioneer, shared his insights on opportunities for young people today, reflecting on his experience with digital technology in the 1980s, where he was the first person to introduce CDs to the American market. He sees parallels with the current advancements in AI today and encouraged attendees to engagement with it to uncover new opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of addressing AI bias as a significant issue in today’s technological landscape. “Colorado is leading the way in developing regulatory environments for AI,” he says.  

“We should all be aware of AI bias. As an entrepreneur and chair of a trade group, I have firsthand experience with the challenges of sorting through job applicants and the potential use of AI to help in this process. However, AI itself has bias, which is not due to a biased programmer but rather the limitations of the large language model and the data fed into it,” Stinson explained, adding that Colorado is the first state to pass AI regulation relating to employment, requiring employers to do due diligence and ensure AI is not making decisions based on illegal parameters. It’s the first state to allow prospective employees to demand a human review of electronically submitted resumes. 

Speakers also emphasized the significance of social capital in discovering job opportunities and the correlation between social capital and economic mobility. Raj Chetty’s research at Harvard was mentioned as an example of the high correlation between social capital and jobs obtained through referrals. This approach encourages the development of authentic relationships and emphasize the importance of social capital in professional and human development. 

Ash Pachauri, Co-Founder of The Protect Our Planet Movement (POP) shared his perspective on the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in the face of rapidly changing technology and the pressing issue of climate change. He discussed his organization’s focus on mobilizing youth to act against climate change and the role they can play in influencing change within their communities. He also highlights the potential risks of relying too heavily on AI, as demonstrated by an instance where AI produced false references in a climate change presentation and generated images that were historically inaccurate.

“While AI offers opportunities for education, critical thinking, and problem-solving, the process of training AI generates significant carbon emissions,” says Pachauri. “We need to encourage a long-term perspective on AI use and development, much like solar technology, which offers renewable energy solutions but also presents challenges with disposal and toxicity.” 

Drawing on her experience in the tech industry during Google’s IPO, Karen Ashworth-McFarlane, CEO of Digame Spirits, shared her thoughts on finding the balance between personal control and the power held by big tech companies. She acknowledged the uncomfortable line between the two.

“I worked with tech giants like Google and Visa in the early days of the internet and artificial intelligence,” she says. She recalls being part of the team that launched Google’s IPO and meeting with Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Eric Schmidt. “I realized the power of AI when I visited Visa’s headquarters and saw how they were analyzing human behavior and spending patterns,” she recalls. “They knew everything about customers by using AI to analyze spending behavior.”  Ashworth-McFarlane stressed the importance of controlling the input to AI and removing unconscious bias, recalling her experience of implementing a program to remove names from resumes at City Group to promote diversity. 

Helen Young Hayes, Founder of Activate Work discussed the potential benefits of using artificial intelligence (AI) for financial planning. She explained that AI removes the judgment and bias often associated with human financial advisors, making it more approachable for individuals who may feel uncomfortable discussing their financial situation. However, there are challenges around implementing AI in industries such as finance and insurance, particularly in highly compliant and regulated environments. “We should emphasize the importance of transparency and traceability in AI systems, which are crucial for ensuring compliance and resilience,” says Hayes.

Security concerns related to AI were also raised, specifically regarding cybersecurity and hacking. The speakers expressed deep concern about the increasing number of cyber-attacks and the sophistication of these attacks, noting that there are currently more than 580,000 vacant cyber jobs in the US and a heavy reliance on underqualified personnel. They also mention the potential use of AI by bad actors and the need to grow the workforce in this critical area. Yet, AI is also used for good, with AI used in financial organizations for fraud detection.

In summary, the panel acknowledged that while AI is becoming increasingly prevalent, its development and use will depend on how we approach it. They also touch on the broader implications of living in a globalized world and the need to consider the kind of institutions we will require to address the complex issues facing society.

Proposed solutions include the need for stronger international institutions to address global issues such as climate change, AI, cybersecurity threats, and nuclear risks — all of which transcend national borders. “These threats require collective action and cannot be solved by any single nation state,” says Stinson. Overall, the panel ended on an optimistic note, acknowledging that AI can help in building stronger international institutions stimulate new debate and ideas that address the world’s most pressing issues.