Would you consider this a course in AI and biotechnology...?
Hi yall,
Questions for everyone as usual. I’m currently a very YOUNG and NEW faculty member at a small university, so I obviously have faculty meetings to attend. While I do not understand everything about AI, I do understand many of the nuances around AI-learning and AI-generated content, but I'm not sure whether my limited understanding is enough for me to speak up regarding this potential new course being offered to upper level biology students.
Basically... in one of our meetings before the semester ended, another (older) faculty member presented a syllabus for a new “AI in Research & Biotech” course they are developing, and after reading it, I have some questions for everyone who may have experience with this intersection...
- Would you consider a) hemocytometers and b) automated cell counters as "AI"? I do not believe cell counting, let alone automated cell counting, are AI, and are only calculations based on fluorescence, ATP staining, etc...
- Would you consider LB or other automated plate readers as "AI"? I also do not believe these are AI. While I understand that there is programming involved behind proper calculations, I don't think this is a "machine-learning model", but more of a traditional algorithmic calculation and general programming based on properties detected by the instrument.
- Would you consider it necessary to have some basic grasp or an introduction to programming and coding language to understand how AI, machine-learning models, and GPT works? I made a comment in the meeting that I find it odd that there are no computer-based modules in the course. I asked: "Will the students be learning any basics of programming or even working with Excel?" and the faculty member said no, that it is too advanced for students to learn. Mind you - this class is only open to juniors and seniors, so I have a hard time accepting that they are incapable of working in Excel let alone understanding the fundamentals of biotechnology. How is there going to be an "AI & Biotechnology" course... without the use of computers?
I appreciate your feedback as there are no other faculty members who do actually have experience working with AI and many even often misinterpret or incorrectly define what AI is.
ETA: The faculty member does not have any specialty in AI. They do have their PhD in organismal biology, and the only AI-related material they have been exposed to was an online course from MIT that gave them some certification.