On Sunday, August 18th, Silicon Valley International School (INTL) hosted its anticipated INTL Connect Networking Event, where current parents, past parents, and INTL Alumni gathered at the beautiful residence of Kian and Wendy Wright. The event provided a valuable opportunity for the INTL community to reconnect, share experiences, and engage in thought-provoking discussions about the future of education, particularly in the context of rapidly advancing technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Networking and Career Guidance
The evening kicked off with a vibrant networking hour, during which attendees mingled and exchanged ideas over refreshments. This initial hour was more than just a social gathering; it served as a platform for sharing valuable career advice. Guests, ranging from seasoned professionals to recent graduates, discussed strategies for carving out successful career paths in an increasingly competitive and tech-driven world.
Diving into the Theme: AI in Our Daily Lives
This year’s INTL Connect centered on a topic that is both timely and critical: the impact of Artificial Intelligence on our daily lives and the importance of developing awareness through education. As AI continues to permeate various aspects of society, from healthcare to education, understanding its implications has become more crucial than ever. The event sought to shed light on these issues and foster a deeper understanding among the INTL community.
Meet the Speakers: Mandy Korphi and Ahmed Guetari
The highlight of the evening was the insightful presentations by two distinguished speakers: INTL Alumna Mandy Korphi and INTL Alumni Parent Ahmed Guetari.
Mandy Korphi, a trailblazer in the field of medical devices, currently heads the Medical Devices Testing Department at Alphabet’s Verily. These devices have applications in areas such as diabetes management, cardiac conditions, and infant wellness.
During her presentation, Mandy shared her deep interest in the ethics of AI applications, a topic that has become increasingly relevant in her work. She posed thought-provoking questions: “What really got me interested in artificial intelligence is the ethics of AI applications. What is responsible AI, what is safe AI, what fundamental human rights are our country trying to protect with AI now rapidly available, and how do we get it to work for humans? These are the same questions that we ask regarding the software applications that our students are using.”
Mandy emphasized the importance of responsible and safe AI, particularly in educational settings.
She highlighted the power of AI in personalizing education, noting, “one powerful quality about AI is how it can personalize education. However, what makes teachers irreplaceable is their ability to analyze a class as a whole and not only cater to each student’s individual needs on a human level but also get students from all levels to interact with one another and teach each other. If you ask a computer to do all of that, you’re not going to replicate the same thorough process.”
Mandy added on to this point by giving multiple examples of teachers she had during her time as a student at INTL. She emphasized that their focus on a foundation of excellence, differentiation, inquiry, and creativity was outstanding and made them invaluable educators. Her insights resonated with the audience, sparking further reflection on the balance between AI's capabilities and the irreplaceable value of human educators.
The second speaker, Ahmed Guetari, brought a wealth of experience from his role as the General Manager of the Service Provider Business at F5. Ahmed’s journey into AI began through collaborations with key customers and industry leaders, where he tackled critical infrastructure challenges involving AI applications.
Ahmed offered a pragmatic perspective on the future of AI in education.
He acknowledged the potential of AI to bridge learning gaps, stating, “one of the most beneficial feats that Artificial Intelligence has the potential to accomplish in education is the ability to help bridge the learning gap between students who receive one-on-one education and those who are taught in a class. Will it make professors redundant? My personal belief no. Will it make education different? Yes. Will it make education better? I think so, but it depends on how we use it.”
Ahmed also provided a stark analogy, “AI is like a tsunami, it’s already here and we have two options, either ride that tsunami and enjoy what we can get out of it, or stay stuck and wait and see what happens.” His words underscored the urgency of embracing AI while being mindful of its applications and potential risks.
Engaging Discussions and Key Takeaways
The presentations by Mandy and Ahmed sparked a spirited discussion among the attendees, who were eager to explore both the benefits and challenges posed by AI technology. The key takeaway from the event was clear, rather than resisting the tide of AI, the best approach is to stay informed, understand its progressions, and utilize its strengths as a supplemental tool in education, rather than allowing it to become a full substitute for traditional methods.
As the evening drew to a close, attendees left with a deeper understanding of AI's role in the future of education and a renewed commitment to fostering responsible and informed use of this powerful technology. The INTL Connect Networking Event once again proved to be an invaluable platform for meaningful discussions, professional growth, and the strengthening of the INTL community.
Contact events@svintl.org if you would like to speak about a specific industry topic in the future.
