Business students learn from leading figures at AI conference

November 2024

By Sean Madden

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The Business School this week hosted an exciting future-focused conference on the transformational and unexplored potential of AI in a variety of real-world applications.

The packed schedule began with a welcome session delivered to students and attendees by Executive Dean and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Business School Dr David Paulson, who discussed the importance of harnessing the potential of AI in order to maximise innovation potential across numerous aspects of business.

Assembled students were advised of the need to prepare for a dynamic and constantly evolving global business environment containing challenges, but also opportunities that are available with appropriate and adequate preparation. David was also eager to stress how well-placed the University was to take advantage of industry links and a network of expertise in order to give students the best possible start to their careers.

The day continued with a number of talks and presentations from business leaders and industry experts working in diverse fields connected by their embrace of AI technologies.

Dr Sanjay Nadkarni, founding partner of Dubrain and holder of several prestigious visiting professorships at universities across Asia and Europe, explained how advanced in AI are leading to real-world application across a variety of industries, including hot-button issues such as sustainability in the services sector.

Following on from this Joe Brown, CEO of Hireable AI, used an interactive and hands-on seminar to tell the story of his company's creation only a few weeks after losing his previous job, and how this inspired him to use AI software to bolster unemployment support for jobseekers - with investment even secured from the UK Government.

Elsewhere across the Conference, Anwar Almojarkesh, CEO and founder of Innovation Factory Ltd inspired students with discussion of AI's prospective use across fields as diverse as healthcare, safety, and railway transportation, making use of his unique technology that detects and analyses abnormal sounds on smartphones in order to assist those with hearing loss, before Anastasios Tapeinopoulos from Birmingham City University gave a talk on the use of AI as a support tool in creative processes.

After a special presentation delivered by Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE - named as one of the Foreign Investment Network (FIN) and Forbes Mathematicians of the Year 2023 - who used digital simulation to guide the audience through a modelling process on the complexities of human behaviour that caused the global economic crisis of 2007-2008. He then explained how this process can be used to minimise the likelihood of an AI takeover.

The conference ended with a comprehensive panel discussion on the evolving relationship between AI and the workforce.

Luciana Akemi Iwasa, from University College Birmingham's Hired team, said: "Events such as this conference help students prepare for an exciting future, perhaps in a job or even a sector that doesn't exist yet!"

"The learning journey doesn't end with their time at University College Birmingham, but studying here gives you the tools to take full advantage of that future."