Experts spotlight AI's human-centered capabilities during Tech Talk

Though artificial intelligence is still in its infancy, its potential to enhance the human experience provides a lot of opportunities, according to the technology’s researchers and innovators. 

Experts expanded on AI’s applications during a September 18 event at the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, sponsored by Grand Valley and Acrisure, as part of Tech Week Grand Rapids. 

“Tech Talks: AI & Human-Centered Design,” explored how AI can accelerate the research and development process for a business, provide guidance and advice for college students and help people with disabilities navigate their environment. 

College of Computing Dean Marouane Kessentini and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Laura Aikens opened the presentations, discussing Grand Valley’s Blue Dot Ecosystem and its role in positioning Grand Rapids as a growing tech hub.

The Blue Dot will play a central role in enhancing the digital skills of every student at GVSU, providing a workforce ready for modern workspaces.

“We need these essential digital skills,” Aikens said. “Whether you're in the arts, you're working toward environmental sustainability, or you're working even inside of modern languages, digital skills are critical.” 

Kessentini emphasized the place Grand Valley and Blue Dot can serve as a bridge between academia and industry. 

“AI is changing everything, ” Kessentini said. “It’s changing the skills that are needed by the industry today. We are here to always listen to industry needs because we think that we will be able to graduate the people who can actually build the next generation of AI and beyond that.” 

Another presenter, Cindy Warner, founder and CEO of 360ofme, illustrated how AI has changed three industries: pharmaceuticals, automotive and construction. 

For example, in the wake of the COVID pandemic, AI is helping pharmaceutical companies personalize therapies and treatments based on a patient’s RNA sequence, Warner said. 

“The area that really intrigues me right now is how we can take a product’s time to market and accelerate that with AI,” Warner said. “AI can actually take those iterative design cycles, shrink those and get the same or better results in a limited amount of time."

Rodney Robinson with Dell Technologies explained how Dell’s AI and digital assistants are improving learning outcomes in higher education and assisting faculty in building engaging curriculum.

Robinson said higher education needs to adapt to the variety of students attending classes, and AI can help faculty and administrators. AI can provide personalized virtual tutoring, automated grading and feedback, predictive analysis for success and AI chatbots for administration, Robinson said.

“Gen AI isn't just a set of tools,” Robinson said. “It's a force multiplier for student success, administrative efficiency and innovative research. As AI becomes central to higher education, those who embrace its potential will lead the next generation of academic excellence.” 

Paul Fink, assistant professor in the College of Computing, closed the event by showcasing his projects and how AI can be utilizied for people with disabilities. 

Fink said autonomous vehicles can provide independence, freedom and autonomy for people with disabilities. He’s currently researching methods to increase engagement for blind or low-vision people .

“One of the projects that I've been working on in the last few years has been how to enable more salient audio information throughout the trip with autonomous vehicles,” Fink said.

Fink’s research would enable a passenger in an autonomous vehicle to gesture through hand or arm signals and elicit audio-based information from the vehicle, such as alternative routes or nearby points of interest.

“Designing technology for people with disabilities is not just something that's going to benefit them, it's the kind of technology that's gonna be beneficial to all of us,” Fink said. 

“If we continue to think about those new sensory pathways, we're going to be able to revolutionize and drive innovation for all of the technology that we use.”