Turin’s Universities are trying to find ways to manage the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. They are approaching it from two sides: on the one hand, incorporating AI into their degree programs; on the other, focusing on education for adults - starting with University professors themselves, but also extending to businesses.

The University of Turin has managed to introduce at least one artificial intelligence course into 34 degree programs, four more than last year. AI is now making its way across disciplines, with different applications depending on the field. The aim is to integrate AI into education, enabling students to use it as a tool across disciplines, with its application tailored to each field.

That is why AI courses can now be found in programs ranging from Law and Linguistics to Biomedicine and Philosophy.

There are also four Master’s Degree programs and three postgraduate Master’s programs specifically focused on AI. Here too, the range is as broad as possible: there is an AI program for biomedicine, one focused on computer science, and others covering linguistic and humanities-related fields.

“The point is that we don’t want to be passive recipients of this technology. We are trying to make sure that all our students are prepared to manage it,” explains Marco Aldinucci, professor of Computer Science and UniTo’s AI delegate.

“AI is here to stay and, like every major technological revolution, it will transform both society and the University. Our task is to guide innovation while keeping people, their dignity and the common good at the heart of it,” Aldinucci continues.

So what does it actually mean to “govern” AI?

Aldinucci offers an example: “Sometimes I get written exams that are riddled with errors. That’s because if you haven’t understood a topic, you’ll accept pretty much anything AI generates for you. Recognizing that an answer is wrong requires critical thinking — and that’s something we teach.”

Then there are questions of ethics and sustainability.

“These are issues we take seriously as we work to build a student community that is aware and inclusive,” confirms Matteo Milani, deputy rector for teaching.

At the Polytechnic University of Turin, there are two master’s degree programs specifically designed to train engineers with AI expertise: one with a more practical focus, and another aimed at providing a more theoretical grounding in algorithms and technology.

But here too, the goal is to integrate AI into engineering education from the outset. Faculty members have therefore been asked to review their course material and incorporate AI-related content into their lessons.

The way exams are conducted has also changed somewhat. Universities are paying closer attention to whether written assignments were actually produced by students, including through disciplinary sanctions — as the tendency to cheat appears to be increasing — while placing greater emphasis on oral exams rather than written ones.

Above all, however, what matters most to the Universities is upskilling their own faculty and opening up to the wider community.

Both institutions have introduced professional development courses to help lecturers understand how to integrate AI into their disciplines and how to “govern” its use.

The Polytechnic is also offering courses specifically designed to help companies navigate the transition.

“Technology is changing so quickly that workers themselves need to keep updating their skills,” explains Fulvio Corno, the Polytechnic’s deputy rector for teaching. “Understanding and managing this wave has never been more important.”

There is a course aimed at business executives, as well as customized training modules tailored to the specific needs of individual companies.

— © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.