EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND KEY HUMAN-CENTRIC SKILLS IN THE ERA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

This comprehensive article explores the importance and role of education, knowledge and key human-centric skills in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI can be best described as an emerging technology and branch of computer science that relies on machine and deep learning in its attempt to simulate human intelligence by applying special software-encoded heuristic solutions, based on a comprehensive learning process through training data. The modern era is accompanied by numerous challenges in the application of AI, especially from the aspect of education, knowledge and key human skills that are necessary for its ethical and safe application. At its beginning, the article provides basic explanations and the history of the origin of this term, as well as the usual risks and threats of using this new technology. After that, the article is focused towards portraying the role of education and knowledge in the ubiquitous era of the application of Artificial Intelligence. In recent years, contemporary society is facing the unexpected rise of AI in its business, economic, legal, cultural, educational, economic, technological, and many other fields. It has deeply penetrated the sphere of knowledge, education and research and development (R&D) and over time it has been shown that AI has the ability to solve some of the burning problems in the education process, to introduce innovations in teaching practices, to ensure inclusive and equal quality education for all, as well as to revolutionize teaching and learning methods and scientific research processes. However, in an era of pervasive concern about whether or not AI can replace human work and existing jobs, the article concludes that while it can perform some routine tasks and procedures, it cannot replace the systems thinking, humane knowledge and key human skills, otherwise necessary for solving problems and achieving deep scientific truths, knowledge and discoveries. Finally, the article deals with an extensive analysis of key human-centric skills (creativity, critical thinking, communication and cooperation) otherwise crucial for the safe and ethical application of Artificial Intelligence systems.