Introduction to Generative AI and SOTA
Abstract
This talk explores the transformative role of Generative AI in education and the workforce, as well as the essential skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving job market. The talk begins with an introduction to Generative AI, what it is, how it functions, and why it represents a pivotal technological development. A series of practical demonstrations will showcase both the opportunities and challenges of AI integration in real-world contexts and workflows. Key AI literacy competencies will be addressed, including understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI, ethical considerations, and effective strategies for working alongside AI tools. The session will also examine the shifting nature of work, the impact of automation on career pathways, and the increasing importance of adapting, remaining relevant, and preparing for emerging opportunities.
Biography
Michael Callaghan is a Reader in Games and Multimedia at Ulster University. He is an award winning academic in the emerging field of serious games and remote/virtual laboratories. He has published widely in the fields of serious games for engineering education, Virtual and Augmented Reality and remote and virtual laboratories. He has been principal investigator/co-investigator on funded projects from the AHRC, DETI, INVESTNI, INTERREG, JISC and the Higher Education Academy and carries out regular consultancy and academic enterprise activities in serious games and virtual worlds. He won the best paper award in 2008 and 2014 at the REV series of international conferences for his work in engineering education and was part of a team that won best paper at @immersiveLRN, the 6th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network in 2020. In 2016, he led a team of staff and students who were the overall winners of the 4th International Educational Games Competition held at the 10th European Conference on Games Based Learning in Paisley, Scotland. In 2021 he was part of a team that won best paper award at the IEEE TALE 2021 conference for the paper Serious Game for Medical Imaging in Fully Immersive Virtual Reality.
Michael Callaghan on LinkedIn