Former Google and Microsoft executive Tim Abel, has urged Victoria University staff to embrace the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching, research and administrative work.
During a workshop held at the university main auditorium along Jinja Road, Abel walked the academic staff through live demonstrations of building adaptive curriculum outlines, generating dynamic case studies in seconds, and utilizing AI as a relentless co-pilot for academic research.
“Artificial intelligence is not a distant storm on the horizon that academia must brace for. It is an engine that is already running” he said.
He added, “The only question for an institution like Victoria University is whether you intend to sit in the passenger seat or take the wheel”.
Abel further opened up frameworks on automating high-volume workflows, refining institutional data processing, and turning complex scheduling bottlenecks into effortless digital routines for the administrative and executive staff.
He also addressed fears by a section of academic staff, of Ai taking over their jobs, reassuring them that it’s a complimentary tool for their work.
“AI will never replace the empathy, intuition, and mentorship of a dedicated educator” he said.
He added; “AI will not replace humans. But human beings who master AI will inevitably lead those who do not. Your job isn’t to compete with the technology it is to use it to amplify your human potential”.
Following the day long training, which saw the former tech executive, strip away the dense, intimidating jargon surrounding large language models and neural networks, while replacing it with immediate, real-world utility tailored directly to the university’s practical learning philosophy, staff left the auditorium, not just trained but transformed with confidence to lead their students into an AI-driven economy with authority.
