As I write this note, I am reflecting on the past 14 or so months of remote working and living. Although we have not been able to connect in person, each one of us is doing our best to keep up our routines听补苍诲听to be productive. But it is important that we practice good self-care as well. Many of us are continuing to struggle with health challenges, losses,聽and stresses,聽not just聽related to聽work and studies,聽but聽to聽everyday life. There are so many uncertainties for which no one聽鈥斅爄ncluding your聽Dean鈥斅爃as answers. A hallmark of humankind is its ability to adapt, to learn, and to聽rise聽stronger from adversity. But this is not something we can or perhaps even should do alone. There is no shame in acknowledging mental health challenges:聽fatigue, fears, frustration. There聽are聽numerous resources聽available to support your mental health.聽聽Please take a moment to review them and perhaps take advantage of options that fit your needs.聽聽
聽At the same time, I am excited about the future 鈥� both long-term and near. SCS continues to strengthen its role in the world of digital transformation with new programs in聽础辫辫濒颈别诲听础谤迟颈蹿颈肠颈补濒听滨苍迟别濒濒颈驳别苍肠别听补苍诲听础辫辫濒颈别诲听颁测产别谤蝉别肠耻谤颈迟测聽on the horizon. Jamie聽Meriotis,聽in his book,聽on聽Human Work in the Age of Smart Machines, highlights that 鈥渞ather聽than be defined by a job, people increasingly are defining themselves by their ability to do various kinds of work, and by their talent.鈥� He goes on to argue that while AI will automate many,聽if not most,聽repetitive tasks (and even some complex, higher order functions, I would add),聽鈥渉uman work鈥澛燽ecomes聽all the more聽important.聽According to the author, such work 鈥渂lends human traits such as compassion, empathy and ethics with our developed human capabilities such as critical analysis, interpersonal communication, and creativity.鈥� This is precisely what SCS is all about 鈥� the transformation of the whole human and society, not just training for a particular job or function. In fact, I believe that most of the jobs that our graduates will ultimately perform, and the work that we ourselves engage in, might not even have been invented yet. That is the beauty and excitement of a future infused with artificial intelligence: in many ways we will have a much greater range of tools and abilities to take leverage changing opportunities that come our way.聽聽
There is one challenge in the world of artificial intelligence that聽we cannot ignore:聽聽the potential for bias and unethical applications of technology. As an institution that prioritizes inclusion of diverse voices and heritage,聽and equitable access to knowledge, we must consider the consequences of a world engineered or designed by a handful of individuals. How can we ensure that the dynamic,聽technology-driven world we live in now and in the future does not inadvertently exacerbate existing systemic racism or bias against聽particular groups? As we innovate and create new worlds and futures, let us remember that humankind is only as strong as the ties that bind us together.聽