Arts, humanities, and commerce students can become more versatile at work by mixing their skills with AI knowledge

By now, we’ve all seen how fast artificial intelligence (AI) is changing jobs. A report from Goldman Sachs says AI could automate two-thirds of occupations. Tasks like admin and legal work could be mostly automated, along with some in construction and maintenance. If you’re still on the fence about the capabilities of AI, consider the story of Sharanya Bhattacharya, a 22-year-old from Kolkata, whose professional life underwent a transformation upon the integration of AI. Previously employed as a copywriter and ghostwriter for a creative agency while pursuing her studies, Sharanya found herself witnessing a significant reduction in her workload as AI technologies like ChatGPT began to assume certain responsibilities. 

“Where there is a will, there’s a way,” they say, and it couldn’t be more true, especially when it comes to adapting to the influence of AI. For students fresh out of class XII, whether it’s West Bengal Higher Secondary, CBSE, or ISC, it’s essential to recognise that AI isn’t limited to just IT jobs. Its impact spans across every field, from arts to humanities to commerce. So, if you’re considering fields like agriculture post-exams, it’s important to dive into AI fundamentals, robotics, and AI ethics. These skills aren’t just nice to have – they’re vital for thriving in a world shaped by AI. 

“In today’s high-tech world where technological advancement has made unprecedented inroads in life and living, the knowledge domain has become profoundly dynamic where students across all disciplines inclusive of arts, humanities, and commerce need to have adequate knowledge and proficiency of new technology in order to have competitive edge in enhancing their career prospects,” said Prof Debasis Bhattacharya, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, IILM University, Gurugram. 

He further explained how a student of literature can explore AI applications in natural language processing (NLP) for content creation or analysis. Prof Bhattacharya also mentioned that students of commerce and humanities can learn how AI is transforming business operations, fin-tech, e-commerce, marketing strategies, and customer experiences. “Proficiency in AI-driven analytics can assist such students make data-driven decisions with efficacy while optimising business processes. Students of international relations and diplomacy can use AI approaches in areas of political consulting, policy analysis, predictive analysis on military and diplomatic engagement through data-driven insights, instant language translation, sifting through enormous data in seeking trends, patterns and future trajectory of geopolitical engagement,” he said. 

There are plenty of online courses available to learn about AI, covering everything from the basics to practical applications and ethical considerations. And it’s not just online – institutes like IITs and IIMs are also offering short-term courses on AI and Machine Learning. For instance, the School of Liberal Arts at IIT Jodhpur has a Centre of Excellence on Arts and Digital Immersion, where students can explore creative and performing arts alongside AI with support from various disciplines. Amity University even offers a BBA programme in International Business with a focus on Artificial Intelligence. To get in, you need to pass your 10+2 exams with at least 60% marks. 

“Prompt engineering involves designing and refining input queries to effectively communicate with AI systems, ensuring the output aligns closely with the needs of the user. This skill can provide a competitive edge to students from non-technical backgrounds by enabling more efficient problem-solving and innovation. People from non-technical backgrounds can leverage prompt engineering by learning how to interact with AI tools tailored to their industries-whether in the creative arts, humanities, or business-transforming vague ideas into precise instructions that yield useful results. Broadly speaking, students should learn to incorporate tech tools to perform repetitive or non-creative tasks in their fields,” said Prof. Kaushik Gopalan, Associate Professor, Computer Science, FLAME University.

Recently, the West Bengal’s Higher Secondary Education Council has suggested adding a warm-up course for Class 10 students interested in the new subjects of Applied Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security. These subjects will be introduced from the 2024-25 academic year. To prepare students, the syllabus for existing subjects like Modern Computer Application and Computer Science has been updated to stay relevant. 

According to Dr Subhajyoti Ray, Director, Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida, educational institutes should periodically update their curriculum and collaborate with industry professionals to ensure that AI courses align with industry demands and emerging job opportunities. “Institutes can integrate AI education into their curriculum effectively by assuring that their courses are interdisciplinary and experiential. This can be accomplished by collaborating with industry experts, offering internships, and delivering hands-on assignments and case studies,” he said. 

For Dr Bhattacharya of IILM, AI is a multidisciplinary field that combines elements of computer science, mathematics, and domain-specific knowledge. He stresses on courses focusing on ethics, responsible AI, and governance for non-engineering students, which will provide them with frameworks for ethical decision-making and understanding the social implications of AI. 

“There’s a course called ‘Practical Machine Learning’ by Johns Hopkins University on Coursera that I’d recommend for beginners without a strong technical background. We also offer a hands-on executive education course on AI that is designed specifically for working professionals from a non-programming background,” said Prof. Gopalan, FLAME University. 

Students who have completed their 10+2 exams and are applying to colleges in arts, humanities, or commerce streams can benefit from enrolling in beginner-level AI courses. These courses typically cover essential topics like machine learning, data analysis, and programming, providing a strong foundation in AI regardless of the field of study. For those with prior experience in AI, exploring more advanced courses focusing on specific topics or applications can be a great way to deepen their understanding and skill set. Whether you’re just starting out or already have some knowledge, there’s always something new to learn in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

With the announcement of the Class XII results across various boards in the country, a new wave of excitement and anticipation sweeps through the minds of students ready to embark on their next academic journey. For many, the desire is strong to explore the realms of humanities, arts, commerce, social sciences and the pure and applied sciences. However, what remains constant across all fields is the ever-expanding presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), reshaping the landscape of education and industry alike. 

In the past, AI was often associated solely with the realm of technology. However, today, its influence extends far beyond, permeating every facet of our lives including the fields traditionally considered non-technical. As per the Future of Jobs Report, 2023 by the WEF, the job market for non-technical graduates is rapidly evolving as AI becomes integral across various sectors. Traditionally non-technical fields such as arts, social sciences, and commerce are increasingly leveraging AI for enhanced decision-making, creativity, and efficiency. Graduates with AI knowledge and skills are finding new opportunities in roles like data analysts, digital marketers, AI ethicists, and UX designers, where understanding AI applications is a significant advantage. In fact, as per the report, the largest single growth driver for jobs shall be big data and AI adoption across sectors. Traditional roles in fields such as HR, vanilla accounting etc. shall soon be irrelevant. In the future, the demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between AI technology and their specific domains will become fundamental--creating a dynamic and interdisciplinary job market. 

Let’s just look around us and observe the transformative power of this new technology. There is no field of human knowledge or endeavour that has, or shall, remain untouched. A few examples: 

Arts 

Music Composition: AI algorithms can compose music by analysing vast amounts of existing compositions and creating new melodies, harmonies, and rhythms. 

Digital Content Creation: AI-powered tools like deep learning-based image and video editing software are enabling artists to manipulate and enhance digital content with greater efficiency and creativity. 

Social Sciences 

Sentiment Analysis: AI techniques are used to analyse large volumes of social media data to understand public opinion, sentiment, and trends. 

Behavioural Analysis: AI algorithms can analyse human behaviour patterns, helping psychologists and sociologists gain insights into social dynamics, personality traits, and decision-making processes. 

Policy Analysis: AI-powered data analytics tools assist policymakers in analysing complex social issues, predicting outcomes of policy interventions, and formulating evidence-based strategies. 

Pure Sciences 

Drug Discovery: AI is accelerating the drug discovery process by predicting the effectiveness and safety of potential drug candidates based on molecular structures and biological data. 

Particle Physics: AI algorithms are used to analyse large datasets from particle colliders like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to discover new particles and phenomena. 

Astrophysics: AI techniques are employed to analyse astronomical data, such as identifying celestial objects, classifying galaxies, and detecting gravitational waves. 

Mathematics 

Data Analysis: AI algorithms are utilised for statistical analysis, data mining, and pattern recognition, enabling mathematicians to extract insights from large datasets and discover hidden patterns. 

Optimisation: AI optimisation algorithms are used to solve complex mathematical optimisation problems in various fields, including operations research, finance, and engineering. 

Commerce 

Predictive Analytics: AI-powered predictive analytics tools help businesses forecast demand, optimise pricing strategies, and identify potential risks and opportunities. 

Customer Relationship Management: AI-driven CRM systems analyse customer interactions and behaviour to personalize marketing campaigns, improve customer satisfaction, and increase sales. 

Supply Chain Management: AI algorithms optimise supply chain operations by predicting demand, managing inventory levels, and optimising logistics and distribution networks. 

These examples illustrate how AI is revolutionising diverse academic fields by enabling new capabilities, insights, and efficiencies. 

In response to the transformative impact of AI across diverse sectors, Indian educational institutions are proactively adapting their curricula to incorporate AI concepts into various academic disciplines. For instance, various IITs and IIMs have introduced specialised courses in AI and machine learning, even for their science students. IISER Pune has established research groups focused on AI applications in chemistry, physics, and biology, fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations. IISc offers an MTech in AI, where pure science students are eligible. Moreover, universities such as DU, JNU, Mumbai University and even our own SNU are offering integrated as well as elective courses in AI, allowing students from humanities and sciences backgrounds to explore AI applications in their respective fields. Additionally, collaborative efforts with organizations like NASSCOM facilitate faculty development programs, enabling educators to effectively incorporate AI into teaching practices. 

As you embark on your academic journey, embrace the challenge of learning AI concepts across diverse disciplines, for in doing so, you are not just acquiring knowledge but unlocking doors to innovation and transformation. With each course, projects, and internship, seize the chance to understand and shape the future. Remember, you are the architects of tomorrow, equipped with the skills and resilience to harness the potential of AI and lead us towards a brighter, more inclusive, and technologically advanced world. So, embrace the journey, embrace the possibilities, and let your passion for learning and discovery fuel your path to success in the AI-driven era!

Prof. Kaushik Gopalan, Faculty of Computer Science. FLAME University, in conversation with Millenium Post.