From Library of Alexandria to Intelligence of Alexa : Knowledge Evolution & Implications
A Talk by Arunav Das (PhD Researcher - Question Answering Systems, King's College London)
About this Talk
This talk explores the transformation of knowledge creation, curation, and access from ancient times to the current era of AI and large language models. It traces the journey from the guarded scrolls of Alexandria to the information overload of the digital age, culminating in the AI revolution.
Key points include:
1. The historical progression of knowledge preservation and dissemination, from ancient libraries to the printing press to search engines to chatbots & voice assistants to the large language models revolution.
2. The emergence of AI, particularly voice assistants and large language models, as collaborators in knowledge generation and problem-solving.
3. The shifting definition of expertise in the AI era, emphasizing the ability to navigate and apply information rather than just possessing it.
4. The evolution of necessary skills, including critical thinking, digital literacy, and source evaluation in an information-rich environment.
5. The importance of new competencies like algorithmic thinking, ethical reasoning, cross-disciplinary synthesis, and adaptive learning.
6. The enduring value of uniquely human qualities such as creativity, contextual understanding, and empathy in complementing AI capabilities.