AI in Academia: When your panelist uses an AI to answer questions

At a recent conference, one observer estimated that less than 10% of the audience was attentively listening to the speakers. Most academics, supposedly there to learn and exchange ideas, were glued to their smartphones and laptops, busy with who-knows-what pointless tasks. A rather sad sight, considering the value these gatherings should hold.

It seems attention has become a rare commodity, even among those who should set an example. Spending hours fiddling with a phone while someone speaks on stage isn't exactly peak engagement. One has to wonder what conferences are for, if interaction is now optional.

The real shocker, the one that left a witness speechless, happened during a Q&A session. An eyewitness reported that during a panel, all but one of the panelists used artificial intelligence to formulate questions and answers. Yes, you read that right: a digital assistant to record the question and then suggest a reply.

It's a bit like having an invisible prompter, but far more sophisticated. Spontaneity, lively debate, genuine human reaction-all went out the window. Essentially, we've replaced dialectics with a bot, and no one batted an eye, except for the one panelist who preferred to use their own brain. How brave, right?

This scenario raises a few eyebrows. If even professionals on stage rely on AI for answers, what message are we sending? That human interaction, the ability to think on one's feet, and to express a genuine opinion, are now superfluous? Maybe next time, we'll just send an avatar.

AI is probably a great tool for streamlining certain processes, but there's a limit. When it starts replacing critical thinking and presence, perhaps it's time to take a step back. Otherwise, conferences will just become an excuse to show off who has the most powerful AI, not to share real knowledge. Is this the future we want?