Commenting on the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in universities, SMU Dean of School of Social Sciences and Professor of Computational Social Science Kenneth Benoit said that AI had fundamentally transformed educational practices. He observed that students no longer needed to take extensive notes or memorise information, as AI made such material instantly accessible. Prof Benoit noted that AI should not be banned, but rather employed as a supportive learning tool, noting that its use in completing assignments was reshaping traditional assessment methods. He added that researchers have also increasingly relied on AI for tasks once handled by assistants, which has both accelerated research and reduced staffing needs. Prof Benoit also highlighted ethical and intellectual-property concerns, warning that AI may blur content ownership and could utilise copyrighted material without permission. Additionally, he raised privacy issues and emphasised how users might unknowingly share their personal data.
