The future of AI affects us all—especially young people who are about to enter the workforce.
In our student lab, we show high school students, among other things, what it can look like when people work together with AI in their professions. It’s not simply a matter of allaying their fears and telling them that “everything will be fine,” but rather, above all, showing them that their future is something they can shape themselves. Students often express concern to us that the jobs they envision today might not even exist in 10 years. They have parents who spent decades with the same employer; they see that as impossible for themselves. We also hear the question of whether the skills they’re learning today might be taken over by a machine in the near future, and this is exactly where the discussion gets interesting.
We talk with the students about the responsibility that AI systems cannot bear alone, a responsibility that will always require skilled professionals. The students realize that critical thinking and asking tough questions are more important than ever.
Sure, their future is uncertain to some extent, but we can explore the use of new technologies, question them, and bring all stakeholders into a dialogue with one another.
The student labs are an incredibly valuable opportunity for us to hear the perspectives of the younger generation as they prepare to choose a career path. Through our exhibition, we can answer many of their questions, showcase different solutions, and highlight the creative potential of AI technologies in a way that resonates with young people. It always gives us great pleasure to make our research accessible to new audiences in this way.
