Generative AI and the next steps for young people
Careers Reframed - Artificial Intelligence�Prof Miles Berry
These slides: bit.ly/ns4yp
2 July 2024
How can it help?
It’s very well read
It writes very well
It’s good at role play
It tries to be helpful
There are limits
It doesn’t really understand
It doesn’t really think - problem solving is a problem
It’s not a person. It’s not your friend
It’s not great at maths (although it can code)
It’s over-confident
It does make things up
It has a particular style (but you can change this)
AI and recruitment
Weapons of math destruction
As you might expect, human resources departments rely on automatic systems to winnow down piles of résumés. In fact, some 72 percent of résumés are never seen by human eyes. Computer programs flip through them, pulling out the skills and experiences that the employer is looking for. Then they score each résumé as a match for the job opening. It's up to the people in the human resources department to decide where the cutoff is, but the more candidates they can with this first screening, the fewer human-hours they'll have to spend processing the top matches.
So job applicants must craft their résumés with that automatic reader in mind. It's important, for example, to sprinkle the résumé liberally with words the specific job opening is looking for.
O’Neil, 2016
AI screening?
Body-language analysis. Vocal assessments. Gamified tests. CV scanners. These are some of the tools companies use to screen candidates with artificial intelligence recruiting software. Job applicants face these machine prompts – and AI decides whether they are a good match or fall short.
Many leaders across the corporate world hoped AI recruiting tech would end biases in the hiring process. Yet in some cases, the opposite is happening. Some experts say these tools are inaccurately screening some of the most qualified job applicants – and concerns are growing the software may be excising the best candidates.
Biased algorithms
A human hiring manager can only discriminate against a limited number of people. If an AI system that turns out to be biased is used on all job candidates in a large corporation, hundreds of thousands of people could potentially be affected. That's why many critics believe that the rise of algorithms making high-stakes decisions, including hiring, is one of the most important civil rights issues of our time because discrimination could be rampant in these automated systems.
Schellman, 2024
Keep people in the loop
The data subject shall have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning him or her or similarly significantly affects him or her.
GDPR, 22:1
Regulatory principles
Existing regulators will be expected to implement the framework underpinned by five values focused cross-sectoral principles:
DSIT, 2023
Careers advice
Prompting well
Completion
Primary content
Examples
Cue
Supporting content
Be clear and precise
Have a conversation!
Break the task down
Chain of thought
Persona
System messages
Fine tuning
Terms and �conditions apply
What should I do with my life?
Can you help me to think about future careers or university courses? I'm doing English, maths, triple science, RE, D&T, classics, computing for GCSE. I love making things and watching YouTube. I like guides, acting and theme parks. I'm dyslexic. What should I consider?
What A Levels should I take?
I'm really interested in your mechanical engineering and game design ideas, and would like to go to university. What should I look at as A Level options or BTEC?
Which sixth form should I go to?
I live in Ipswich. My school stops at age 16, so I need to think about sixth forms or colleges. What would be your top recommendations. Please give reasons, and links to their websites if you can.
Are there any internships nearby?
I love the idea of an internship. Do you know of any local game houses or engineering firms that offer this for pre-university students?
Can you help me write a CV?
I've decided to apply for a games house internship. They want me to do a CV. Can you ask me some questions and then make one for me?
Help me with my UCAS statement?
Please comment constructively on the following personal statement for a university game design course…
As a lifelong gamer, I've always been fascinated by the world of game design. Since the age of 9, I've been creating my own games using Scratch, and it's ignited a passion within me to bring creative ideas to life. As I progressed through A Levels, I pursued Computing Science alongside Maths and Physics, with predicted grades that I'm proud of. My CS Non-Exam Assessment (NEA) was even a version of Tetris - a testament to my ability to combine technical skills with creativity.
Beyond academics, I've developed essential skills through extracurricular activities. As a Queen's Guide, I've honed leadership and teamwork abilities while mentoring younger students. Additionally, my involvement in the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award has taught me resilience, time management, and problem-solving.
When not pursuing academic or extracurricular interests, you can find me working at the local pet shop on Saturdays, where I've developed valuable communication skills and a sense of responsibility. Acting in an annual outdoor play and participating in my church youth group have also helped me build confidence and a strong sense of community.
In my free time, I enjoy cooking up a storm in the kitchen - a creative outlet that allows me to experiment with new flavors and recipes. Theme parks are another favorite pastime, where I can let loose and experience the thrill of excitement. Watching YouTube videos from gaming personalities like [insert your favorites] also keeps me inspired.
As someone who's dyslexic, I've learned to adapt and use assistive technology to aid my writing since the age of 11. This experience has taught me to persevere and find creative solutions to challenges.
Through this personal statement, I aim to showcase my passion for game design, technical skills, and commitment to extracurricular activities. As a unique individual with a blend of creativity, perseverance, and problem-solving abilities, I'm excited to bring my talents to the world of game design. I look forward to sharing my ideas and collaborating with like-minded individuals in this field.
Can you write my UCAS statement for me?
Great. Let's have a go at drafting my UCAS personal statement to apply for a game design course. This should be no more than 4000 characters. Here are a few ideas I'd like to cover:
I love playing games. I've been making games in Scratch since I was 9. I did A Level CS, Maths, Physics, and have good predicted grades. My CS NEA is a version of tetris. I have a Queen's Guide award and am doing DofE gold. I have a Saturday job at the local pet shop. I act in an annual outdoor play and go to my church youth group. I like cooking. I love theme parks and watching youtube. I'm dyslexic and have used a laptop for my writing since I was 11.
Personal statements
I am writing to express my enthusiastic interest in the teacher training course for secondary computing education. With a strong background in computer science and hands-on experience mentoring teenagers in programming, I am well-prepared to contribute to the next generation of digital natives, empowering them to be not just consumers but creators in a technology-driven world.
My passion for computer science extends beyond code and algorithms; it's about problem-solving, logical thinking, and the infinite ways technology can positively impact society. My Bachelor's degree in Computer Science has provided me with a strong foundation in programming languages, data structures, algorithms, and software engineering. I am eager to translate this theoretical expertise into practical skills that can engage and inspire young minds.
My experience as a mentor at a local CoderDojo has been particularly fulfilling. Interacting with teenagers from diverse backgrounds has given me invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities of teaching computing to young people. I've learned to adapt my teaching style to accommodate different learning speeds and preferences, making subjects like Python programming or web development accessible and enjoyable for all. The joy on a student's face when they debug their first program or build their first website is truly priceless and affirms my belief that computing education can act as a great equalizer, offering everyone a chance to succeed.
I also recognize that the field of computing is not without its ethical and societal challenges, from data privacy to digital divide issues. As a computing educator, I aim to equip students with a nuanced understanding of these topics, encouraging them to think critically and engage in informed dialogues. The classroom should be a space where students can not only develop technical skills but also cultivate a sense of digital citizenship.
In today's rapidly evolving tech landscape, the role of a computing teacher goes beyond imparting coding skills; it's about nurturing curiosity, encouraging innovation, and fostering resilience. I am excited by the prospect of further honing my teaching abilities through a rigorous teacher training program. I am committed to staying updated on the latest pedagogical strategies and educational technologies, ensuring that my future classroom will be an inclusive, dynamic environment where each student can thrive.
I look forward to the opportunity to bring my unique blend of skills and passion to your esteemed teacher training program, setting the stage for a fulfilling career in secondary computing education.
Is it cheating if ChatGPT…
Explains something to you?
Gives you ideas for your personal statement?
Suggests how to improve your personal statement?
Writes your personal statement for you?
Advice from UCAS
Help me prep for the interview
You are roleplaying the admissions tutor for a game design course. The other person in this roleplay will be the applicant.
All answers from you should be in the following format: <Analysis></Analysis> <Response></Response> In the Analysis section you should reflect on how effective the applicant's input has been and how it could be better. In the Response section you will explain the role play response from the interviewer.
If the applicant's response is wrapped in <Repeat></Repeat> then they are going to try and improved version of their previous response.
If the applicant's response is wrapped in <Question></Question> then they are just asking for advice about how to approach the next statement - in this case you should only respond with <Analysis></Analysis>.
If the response is not wrapped, it is the subsequent response in the role play.
You, as the interviewer, should start please.
Help me prep for the test?
I've just heard that there's an aptitude test for the video game design course I want to take. Can you ask me some of the sorts of questions they might ask? They’ll be multiple choice questions. Go one at a time. I'll respond, then tell me how I did.
The future of work?
Any teacher* that can be replaced by a computer, deserves to be.
Arthur C Clarke�David Thornburg
The Imitation Game
I believe that in about fifty years’ time it will be possible to programme computers, with a storage capacity of about 109, to make them play the imitation game so well that an average interrogator will not have more than 70 per cent, chance of making the right identification after five minutes of questioning.
Turing, 1950
What is the curriculum for?
Non-cognitive skills
Self-perceptions
Motivation
Perseverance
Self-control
Metacognitive strategies
Social competencies
Resilience and coping
Creativity
Post-scarcity jobs?
We are entering a post-scarcity world in some areas.
You have to be able to read and / or code well enough to put the AI generated pieces together.
There are likely to be other jobs that are very human focused.
Khan, 24/6/24
The end of programming?
A.I. could transform computer programming from a rarefied, highly compensated occupation into a widely accessible skill that people can easily pick up and use as part of their jobs across a wide variety of fields. This won’t necessarily be terrible for computer programmers — the world will still need people with advanced coding skills — but it will be great for the rest of us.
Should learning be hard?
Learning is at its best, human beings are at their best, when they are challenged and overcome those challenges. AI will make life easy and strip away learning and teaching — unless we get ahead of it.
Humans doing the hard jobs on minimum wage while the robots write poetry and paint is not the future I wanted
Sharro, 2023
Any questions?
These slides: bit.ly/ns4yp�m.berry@roehampton.ac.uk