Defiance College Adapts to AI: Daggett

Daggett on AI Adaptation at Defiance College

During the Jan. J. Younger Colloquium at Defiance College on Thursday evening, Dr. William Daggett, an education expert, discussed artificial intelligence. He addressed both the advantages and disadvantages of AI at the event held in Defiance College's Schomburg Auditorium.

Daggett suggested Defiance College is well-positioned to adjust to AI and its effects, noting that the colloquium served as the kickoff to Homecoming events at the college.

AI's Rapid Development

He noted the rapid development of AI, pointing out that Chat GPT didn't exist three years ago, yet it quickly learned to generate information from the internet. Apple Intelligence, introduced in June, can now analyze math and engineering problems and provide personalized tutoring, which is difficult for a teacher to do in a classroom setting.

Daggett predicted that future AI programs will gather information from their environments and use it to form judgments and create original insights.

Impact on Students and Industry

Daggett observed that today’s students, who have grown up with screens, may have different brain structures than previous generations. He suggested they may retain less information and lack social skills despite their electronic expertise.

According to Daggett, AI will have a significant impact on industry. Companies that fail to embrace new technologies risk becoming obsolete. He cited the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which indicates that numerous jobs will be drastically altered or eliminated in the next couple of years.

He questioned whether educators should expect students to adhere to old teaching methods or adapt to the changing world.

Broader Skills

Daggett emphasized the importance of skills that AI cannot replicate, like empathy, communication, creativity, adaptability, prioritization, and planning. He termed these broader skills, which he believes Defiance College can foster due to its small size and dedicated staff.

Daggett praised Defiance College for equipping students with these skills and attitudes, stating that they are essential for success.

Daggett previously taught at Alfred State College and Temple University, and served as dean at Russell Sage College and as director at the New York State Education Department. Thursday’s event marked the seventh in the speaker series named for Jan J. Younger, a former Defiance College professor and speech coach. The series is supported by an endowment.