Global Tech Leaders Converge at AICET
A delegation of 33 Computer Science undergrads and faculty from Malaysia’s University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) recently visited AICET, where they gained profound insights into the essential roles and mindset required of future Computer Engineers in the burgeoning AI era. The visit served as invaluable opportunity for the students to gain significant inspiration and clarity on their future career paths.
Prof. Ben Leong’s Central Thesis: The AI Era – Focusing on People, Not Technology
The highlight of the visit was a compelling presentation by Prof. Ben. Addressing the widespread apprehension within the educational community that AI is causing job displacement, Prof. Ben assertively reiterated his central thesis, urging a necessary paradigm shift among educators.
He declared that “The effective adoption of AI is fundamentally a people problem, not a technology problem.” He stressed that as AI automates more and more tasks, the educational focus must pivot sharply toward instructing crucial “human skills”.
Live Demonstration: AI Coaching for Professional Development
Prof. Ben provided a practical illustration of his point by showcasing a generative AI model designed for professional development. He delivered a live demonstration of a chatbot providing real-time coaching for a simulated manager-subordinate consultation. The screen, which showed the final evaluation and a summary of the session, captivated the delegation, offering a clear view of how AI coaching works in practice.
This demonstration offered the students a concrete vision of how AI can be utilized as a tool to enhance human capabilities, rather than merely replace them.
An Inspiring Lesson for Future Computer Engineers
The UTAR students were left with deep inspiration and a clearer sense of direction following their visit to AICET and Pro. Ben’s presentation. They received a valuable lesson in recognizing the importance of human-centric problem-solving skills —such as empathy, critical thinking, and communication — over and above technical coding expertise, particularly as they prepare for the AI age.
The students now view AI not just as a subject for programming, but as a powerful enabler for maximizing human potential and creating social value.
AICET is committed to continuing to share technology and academic knowledge with UTAR to further the advancement of Computer Engineering.
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