INDIANAPOLIS — Artificial intelligence is being used to deliver packages, detect diseases, and help produce energy for a city’s power grid. It can do many things.
Purdue University in Indianapolis is hoping to be a part of the next generation changing the tech landscape with its artificial intelligence degree program.
When Sarah Papabathini joined the program a couple years ago, she knew she was ready to help people.
"After graduation, I want to get into some type of job that has real promise for tech innovation and drive. Because I want to make some type of impact with my field," said the junior artificial intelligence major.
As one of the first to join the major, Papabathini didn’t shy away from what this field could accomplish.
"Just being around technology all the time — coding, programming — that was something that I fell in love with and knew that I wanted to do with my career. AI is not bad. You can use AI to do a lot of good," Papbathini said.
While there have been satirical films and internet chatter about robots taking over our society — and there’s the idea that jobs could be lost — Purdue is working to lean into artificial intelligence.
"AI is not always meant to replace, but it’s actually meant to improve and make things better," Papabathini said.
The program’s curriculum talks a lot about ethical responsibility when it comes to honing this powerful technology.
"This technology is evolving and expanding. And we want to train our students to be critical thinkers — logical thinkers, and understand not just the technology, but how the technology impacts daily life and society," said Dr. Lucy Flesch, dean of the College of Science at Purdue University.
In addition to computer technology and science, students will also study philosophy and sociology. And with Purdue University leaning into its Indianapolis location, university leaders are hoping to take advantage of influencing the industry already here.
"One of our hopes, especially being in Indianapolis with this degree, is to connect our students with Indiana industry that wouldn’t necessarily be early adopters. But they can then bring that technology into how they farm, how they do healthcare, and how we do all things that really impact our daily lives," Flesch said.
Purdue leaders have this saying "every industry is now a tech industry." There are 190 AI students at Purdue’s Indy and West Lafayette campuses, with the idea of reframing how we think about careers, the tech sector, and all fields as society and science advances.