Aitchison College Senior School hosted an engaging and thought provoking interactive session with Dr Asim Ijaz Khawaja on 22nd August at Computer Lab. Dr Khawaja is a Director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University and Sumitomo-FASID Professor of International Finance and Development at Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a co-founder of the Center for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP).

The session provided students with an opportunity to explore the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through a practical and interactive experience. Dr Khawaja introduced the students to Jugnu, one of his AI Chatbot applications, and demonstrated its capabilities through an engaging exercise.

During the activity, students were provided with access to the software and interacted with the Chatbot through a series of questions organised around three key aspects. The Chatbot responded to students in real time and presented them with different forms of media, which they were required to analyse and interpret, particularly in relation to the emotions and responses conveyed.

The exercise encouraged students to apply emotional and psychological reasoning, while simultaneously developing their ability to think critically, interpret information and respond spontaneously. The interactive nature of the activity allowed students to experience firsthand how AI can be used as a tool for learning, analysis and reflection.

The practical exercise was followed by an insightful feedback discussion, during which students shared their observations, experiences and reflections on their interaction with the AI Chatbot. The discussion provided an opportunity for students to consider both the potential and the challenges associated with emerging AI technologies.

Overall, the session offered Aitchison students a unique opportunity to explore the applications of Artificial Intelligence while developing critical thinking and reflecting on the increasingly important relationship between technology, human emotions and decision making.