VIVES opens experience space around artificial intelligence: ‘Indispensable in our lives’
The brand new innovation center ‘Flax’ (Future Learning and Augmented eXperience) introduces everyone to artificial intelligence in an accessible way. Griet Verbeke, Flax House of AI at VIVES University of Applied Sciences: “We explain what AI is using games, in such a way that it is very understandable for people. For example, a game has been created in which visitors have to think and guess what is real and what has been generated by AI. To learn how to discover fake news in this way.”
This way you can try to beat the computer during the games. “This is not easy in some games, because computers can analyze figures very quickly. But there is also a game in which you have to estimate the value of houses. The AI computer can do that too, but if there is a wind farm in the neighborhood, for example , we as humans know that the value of that house will decrease. A computer cannot (yet) make that estimate.”
Available in all sectors
The experience space is mainly for the students of VIVES. For the past three years, they have been taught ‘immersive technologies’ in every Bachelor’s degree programme, in which they become acquainted with artificial intelligence and virtual reality in their sector.
Just like the nursing students: “There is a device that allows the blood vessels to see through the skin. That makes it more efficient to draw blood, because that is not always easy,” explains Emma Vandorpe. “Now I don’t think AI can ever completely take over our profession. Patients still want human contact to communicate a diagnosis, for example.”
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But associations, schools or companies can also learn a lot. “Companies usually know what artificial intelligence is, but are not always able to translate ‘what’s in it for me?’. We are here with a team of researchers, teachers, people who provide services, both within VIVES and at the KULeuven campus KULAK, so we can further guide those companies to implement AI.”
Although it all sounds nice, there are also dangers to AI, which they also consider here in a self-reflection room. Just think of privacy. “Do we actually know what is being stored about us? How does the government deal with all those dangers that come our way? And that is why it is important that visitors also gain insight into all those dangers in order to make conscious choices themselves .”
House of AI is located in the old flax museum along the Etienne Sabbelaan in Kortrijk. The official opening is scheduled for September.