The School of Marketing and Management (SoMM) at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) recently organised a research workshop on 22nd March 2024. Led by Ms Harjinder Kaur, Senior Lecturer, SoMM, the event provided a platform for 70 APU students from diverse academic backgrounds to delve into the transformative realm of artificial intelligence (AI) research.

The workshop, titled "Unlocking Tomorrow's Potential: Delving into AI Domains in Research," explored the multifaceted role of AI across various industries.

Dr Dineswary Nadarajan, Recipient of Asia’s outstanding researcher award by World Research Congress (WRC), served as the keynote speaker.

Dr Dineswary’s expertise and insights illuminated the students' understanding of AI's applications and ethical considerations.

Transcendent Insights

During the workshop, students participated in interactive sessions and discussions, gaining insights into AI's potential to revolutionise various sectors including healthcare, finance, education, environmental conservation, manufacturing, retail, financial technology (fintech), energy, and marketing.

AI's effects on productivity, efficiency, and problem-solving were demonstrated through hands-on activities and real-world case studies, giving students a greater understanding of the technology's potential to revolutionise a wide range of industries.

Navigating Challenges

While acknowledging AI's promises, the workshop also addressed critical challenges, including ethical considerations surrounding data privacy, bias mitigation, and algorithmic accountability.

Discussions concentrated on how crucial it is to lessen biases and ensure fair socio economic results in the face of AI-driven breakthroughs. The workshop also underlined the need for preemptive steps to guard against future socio economic shocks and the growing threat of AI-driven job displacement.

Empowering Tools

Attendees were introduced to a variety of free AI research tools, empowering them to navigate the field effectively.

Tools such as Heuristica, OpenRead, Explainpaper, SCISPACE, and Classic AI (ChatGPT and perplexity) were showcased, providing resources for exploration, collaboration, and innovation. Students were able to improve their skills in evaluating complicated datasets, understanding model predictions, and creating creative AI solutions by utilising these tools, which also provided them with useful insights into AI research approaches.

Student Perspectives

Feedback from students reflected their appreciation for the workshop's insights and practical relevance.

Ikleela Ismail, a student from Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), emphasised that despite the significant benefits of AI for mankind and business transformation, its potential disadvantages in career prospects, which could disrupt the balance of peace, integrity, and global well-being, as well as strain limited resources should be acknowledged.

Yap Siaw Ling, a student from Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Marketing Management with a specialism in Digital Marketing, underscored the importance of ethical considerations in AI research.

Sabrina Wee Shi Yun, another student from Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Marketing Management with a specialism in Digital Marketing, emphasised the value of interdisciplinary cooperation in AI research and the necessity of bringing together specialists from various fields to tackle challenging societal issues.