WGS 2016: Eminent Academic Affirms Universities of the Future will Deliver Lifelong Education Driven by Artificial Intelligence

Dubai - MENA Herald: Creating curiosity among children so they discover their passions, take their own moonshots and bring their own dreams to life will be the role universities play in the future, according to Dr Peter Diamandis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of X-Prize, and Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Singularity University.
Addressing a packed session on day two of the World Government Summit 2016, Dr Diamandis offered participants a preview of the exponential leap that education is set to take as modern technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D printing and robotics converge in the near future.
“A classroom where everything you question can come to life will be fascinating,” added Dr Diamandis, while demonstrating how regular classrooms will become tedious to students exposed to modern technologies which deliver a vivid and immersive learning experience.
Describing the traits of the University of the Future, he listed the following factors:
Personalized: Every child will have education customized to the individual requirements through AI, where the teacher would know exactly what interests them, and what their capabilities, strengths and weaknesses are
Free: The best education in the world for every child will be demonetized, just as present day search engines have provided free access to information to anyone that seeks it
On-demand/Just in Time: Lessons will be delivered exactly when one needs to learn them and learning will continue throughout one’s lifetime
Virtualized: Classroom sessions will be conducted primarily for sports, to promote teamwork and the social experience
Inspirational: Education will help children realize their dreams and ambitions, by pushing them to learn more about things that truly interest them
Dr Diamandis elaborated with examples of technologies such as 3D Printing and AI how processes such as ‘designing’ a garment, or a machine, or even a building could be revolutionized.
With education set to employ disruptive and innovative techniques, over 50 percent of all jobs in the world will be performed by AI. The true skills imparted through education would be the ability to express oneself, describe what one wants to know and leverage technology to find the solution. Eventually, as Diamantis puts it: “The quality of your questions will define what you learn.”
The World Government Summit convenes over 3,000 personalities from 125 countries. The summit has lined up more than 70 topics through keynote speakers and major interactive sessions, drawing the participation of world leaders, ministers, decision makers, CEOs, innovators, officials, experts, entrepreneurs, academics, and university students. A number of initiatives, reports and studies are also being launched during the summit and throughout the year. WGS 2016 will concluded on February 10 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.