AI skills essential to stay relevant in changing job market: Experts

Srinagar, Oct 24: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education, creativity, employment and communication, making it imperative for people to upgrade their skills and adapt to the emerging technological landscape, experts observed during a two-day National Seminar-cum-Workshop at the University of Kashmir.
Titled “Artificial Intelligence, Creativity and Content Generation: Opportunities and Challenges of a New Tomorrow,” the seminar was jointly organised by the Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), New Delhi and Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC), University of Kashmir.
During the deliberations, experts underlined that AI could no longer be ignored and that developing the ability to work with the technology was essential to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. They also stressed the need for responsible AI adoption, critical thinking, effective communication and continuous skill development.
At the inaugural session, Director EMRC, Prof. Syeda Afshana, said AI imitates human intelligence and emphasised that its future should not be shaped by technologists alone. Educators, researchers and scholars, she said, have an equally important role in determining how the technology evolves and is used.
Registrar, University of Kashmir, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, observed that every challenge brings opportunities. He said the education system was responding to the challenges posed by AI, paving the way for a new synthesis that could benefit humanity.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Parikshat Singh Manhas, Director, CEC, New Delhi, said AI should not be viewed merely as a threat to employment, but also as a technology capable of creating new opportunities. He emphasised that people who understand how to use AI effectively would be better positioned in the future job market.
Prof. Manhas highlighted the importance of effective prompting, clear thinking and strong communication skills, noting that AI could enhance productivity by enabling more work to be completed in less time and with fewer resources.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Nilofer Khan said AI had significance for humanity as a whole and could make complex educational concepts easier to understand. She also emphasised the potential of AI to help address everyday challenges and called for a better understanding of its applications.
On the first day, Director EMRC, University of Calicut, Dr. Damodar Prasad, described AI as a paradigm shift rather than an ordinary technological innovation. He referred to the growing use of AI in learning and preparation, highlighting the need to understand its implications for education and professional development.
Dr. Asif Assad of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) introduced participants to locally developed AI tools and chatbots, including PashmNet and RiceNet, demonstrating the potential of AI applications tailored to local needs.
Prof. Umesh Arya of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Haryana, said AI differed from earlier technologies because of its ability to perform tasks associated with thinking. He cautioned that the employment impact of AI could vary across countries, depending on the skills available in their workforces.
On the second day, Dr. Archana Kumari of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) addressed concerns about AI replacing human workers, describing widespread fears of job losses as a perception reinforced by social media and cinema. She also cautioned that people were increasingly placing greater trust in algorithms than in human judgement.
Addressing the legal dimensions of AI, Dr. Mir Junaid Alam of the Department of Law, University of Kashmir, discussed the challenges AI-generated content poses for copyright law. He observed that the absence of independent intention on the part of AI raises complex questions for lawmakers, particularly concerning authorship and ownership of AI-generated works.
Dr. Jatinder Jit Kour, Senior Producer, EMPC, IGNOU, emphasised the judicious use of technology and observed that the quality of prompts depends significantly on an individual’s intelligence and understanding.
Dr. Bilal Ahmad Malik of the University of Kashmir discussed emerging concerns surrounding the regulation of AI users and AI-generated products, highlighting the need for appropriate legal frameworks.
The valedictory session brought together academicians, media professionals, researchers and participants to reflect on the key insights emerging from the two-day programme.
In his concluding remarks, Shafqat Habib, Senior Producer, EMRC, University of Kashmir, reflected on the transformative impact of AI and the importance of understanding its implications for creative practices and society.
Prof. Tariq Ahmad Chisti, Dean, School of Open Learning, University of Kashmir, highlighted the importance of adapting to technological advancements in education. Prof. M. Tariq Banday, Dean, School of Engineering, University of Kashmir, emphasised the need for educational institutions to respond to the evolving digital landscape.
Delivering the valedictory address, Prof. Sharief-ud-din Pirzada, Dean Academic Affairs, University of Kashmir, highlighted the importance of engaging with emerging technologies in higher education and equipping learners and educators to navigate an increasingly AI-enabled environment.
The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates among participants and resource persons.
The seminar reaffirmed the commitment of EMRC, University of Kashmir, and CEC, New Delhi, to promoting dialogue, capacity-building and innovation in educational multimedia and technology-enabled learning. The deliberations underscored that while AI presents both opportunities and challenges, its ultimate impact will depend on how responsibly and thoughtfully society chooses to develop, regulate and use it.