Embracing A.I.
In Beauty and the Beast (front cover) the Beast becomes ever more human, finally transforming into the Prince – everything that Beauty could wish for. There is an AI analogy: Increasingly able to demonstrate emotional intelligence, creativity, and sophisticated social skills, for many of us AI is becoming the Prince, our most Significant Other.
Universities too are moving towards wholehearted adoption. At CityUHK, a Digital Learning Magazine has recently been launched detailing the wide array of digital technologies and educational approaches now available. And the College of Business is an early and enthusiastic adopter of Digital and Team Based Learning.
In this issue Professor Ron Kwok Chi-wai, Director of Assurance of Learning (AoL) and Teaching Innovation, envisions a future where students create viable business proposals, innovative app ideas, and tangible prototypes. These are real-world applications of their learning, a far cry from the pen and paper essays of old.
AI is also having profound effects on the corporate sector. In Navigating the Tides of Change Joe Ngai, Senior Partner and Chairman of McKinsey’s offices in Greater China, gives his take on how AI as a game-changer may widen the productivity gap. He foresees a great disparity between those armed with the right technology and those behind on it. The message is clear: equip yourself with the new tech.
University-corporate collaboration is on the rise, and again AI is frequently the facilitator. The Laboratory for AI-Powered Financial Technologies (AIFT) is a key example. In Beyond Inventory - The New Era of Credit in Cross-Border E-commerce, Director Professor Houmin Yan, explains how AIFT is pioneering a new era of smart credit in supply chain finance.
AI is also transforming experiences in more traditional industries such as event management. In Transforming Experiences — The Digital Revolution, Fareeda Cassumbhoy, Group Chief Digital Officer of Pico Group, shows how a digital transformation captures customer data from physical events and measures Return on Experience (ROX).
Indeed, it is increasingly apparent that face-to-face events — whether lectures/ seminars in universities, or exhibitions/ conferences in the corporate sphere — will no longer be stand-alone events. Dr Cassumbhoy outlines 3 steps: Relevance, making sure the right audience is prepared for the event. Attention, measuring the depth of engagement within the experience. Lastly, Interest, quantifying the tangible actions taken by the attendee, (a tangible learning outcome for universities or buying or commitment intent for corporate). All this adds up to a quantifiable data-driven ROX.
Soon, all professionals — in academia or business — will require assurance that their work in staging face-to-face events indeed delivers a strong Return on Experience.
Professor Stephen Shum Wan-hang
Dean
College of Business
