AI expert: not knowing how to use generative AI does not mean you will lose your job

According to the latest data, Lithuania is among the world leaders in the use of artificial intelligence tools. Nevertheless, growing use of technology does not in itself mean that we are one step ahead. According to Dr Agnė Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė, professor at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and Head of the Centre of Excellence of Artificial Intelligence SustAInLivWork, the reason there has been no real AI breakthrough in the country is not a lack of ideas, but a lack of coordination and the overly fragmented way in which different sectors operate.

In discussions about start-ups, talent development, the future of education and the potential of AI, extreme messages still often dominate - either you adapt quickly, or you will be replaced. According to Prof. Dr Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė, this tone does not strengthen public readiness but instead provokes a reaction of rejection.

"AI literacy should be encouraged through awareness, through explaining both the problem and the benefits. Scaremongering that technology will replace people and then urging them to rush out and buy training, is one of the least professional and least education-oriented approaches possible," she says.

According to the expert, far too little is being said today about the essentials - the limitations of AI tools, the mistakes they make, how they work, their responsible use, data security and ethics. As a result, a dangerous practice is emerging in which people are encouraged to trust systems blindly, without understanding either their capabilities or their risks.

"What we really need is to learn how to work with AI, rather than let it do everything on behalf of people. It is important to state clearly in which activities it can help - not only more quickly, but in some cases more accurately as well. However, it is no less important to understand where human judgement, critical evaluation and responsibility are indispensable," the professor states.

In the age of AI, the teacher's role remains essential

Questions are often raised in public debate about how the role of the teacher will change in the AI era, how AI-related abilities will be developed and how teachers' competences can be strengthened more quickly. However, according to the interviewee, the direction of the discussion itself is often framed inaccurately.

"No technology should ever replace a teacher, because teaching is not merely the transfer of knowledge. It is the nurturing of personality, critical thinking, creativity and independence. For that reason, the integration of AI into education should first and foremost be based not on trying to replace the teacher, but on reducing the administrative burden - automating documentation and routine, repetitive, time-consuming tasks," she emphasises.

Technology should help free up teachers' time for what matters most in the educational process - working with pupils, communication, fostering creativity and improving teaching quality. Meanwhile, growing pressure to be ever more productive, faster and even more overloaded can only make an already highly challenging education system even more difficult.

"In my view, in the future AI or robots will only be able to teach the poorest. The greatest value and wealth will still lie in children being taught by a real teacher - a human being," says the Head of the Centre of Excellence of Artificial Intelligence SustAInLivWork.

There is still no AI breakthrough in Lithuania

According to Prof. Dr Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė, a similar problem can be seen in the broader national context. Although there is no shortage of discussion in Lithuania about an AI breakthrough and partnership between business, the public sector and academia, real progress is often hindered not by a lack of ideas.

"The biggest problem today is not a lack of ideas, but fragmented implementation. We still far too often see each sector speaking from the perspective of its own field, whereas a breakthrough requires a shared direction, maturity and the ability to work not according to the logic of isolated initiatives, but with a common result in mind," she says.

AI is a broadly applicable technology that can increase productivity in many areas, from public sector administration to improving the efficiency of industrial processes. However, simply declaring that 'AI will be everywhere' is not enough.

"We build international competitiveness where we have added value - well-prepared datasets, experts, a market and ambitious yet highly practical projects. That is why Lithuania needs not only a horizontal strategy, but also clearly identified fields in which we can be not only users, but creators as well, for example in healthcare or manufacturing," notes Prof. Dr Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė.

A unified approach is needed

Important steps in the field of AI have already been taken in the country - degree programmes are being developed, academic competences are growing stronger and cooperation models are being created. KTU's undergraduate degree programme in Artificial Intelligence was launched as early as 2020, while postgraduate AI studies are carried out not only at KTU, but also at other universities in the country. Nevertheless, a real breakthrough requires a clear coordination centre and a more coherent state approach.

"As long as there is no single strong coordinating hub with clear responsibilities and goals oriented towards society, the risk remains that we will have many initiatives, but no breakthrough. The state needs not only a vision, but also a real model in which the public sector, business and science work according to the logic of a shared product," she says.

According to the interviewee, this requires the consistent strengthening of national data infrastructure, computing resources, testing and regulatory sandboxes, the system for developing AI competences and clear governance. It is no less important that the state should be capable of becoming not merely an observer of innovation, but its first customer, thereby creating an ecosystem based on trust and long-term value.

"An AI breakthrough begins when the state dares to become the first customer of such innovations, rather than merely their observer. We need to invest more in solutions developed in our own country, support local creators and strengthen cooperation between institutions. Only in this way can a sustainable innovation ecosystem be built," says Prof. Dr Paulauskaitė-Tarasevičienė.

In her view, what is particularly important for Lithuania today is not to give in to catchy but superficial interpretations of the AI future, but to focus attention on responsible public education, real needs and solutions that create practical value. In this context, SustAInLivWork also plays a significant role by bringing together academic, technological and institutional competences for the shared development of AI in Lithuania.

SustAInLivWork is the first excellence centre of its kind in Lithuania, systematically bringing together AI knowledge and expertise from four strong Lithuanian universities - Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) - in cooperation with advanced partners from Germany and Finland. Unlike many other initiatives or projects, SustAInLivWork is not focused solely on technology development or competence building. It is a long-term, cross-sectoral platform bringing together science, business, the public sector and society.

The SustAInLivWork project is co-funded under the European Union's Horizon Europe programme under Grant Agreement No. 101059903 and under the European Union Funds' Investments 2021-2027 (project No. 10-042-P-0001).