“How will we have survived in 10 years’ time?” A podcast recorded at Católica provides the answer
“How will we have survived in 10 years’ time?” This question served as the theme for the latest episode of the “Puxar pela Cabeça” podcast, organised by Amrop Portugal and Jornal Económico, which was recorded live at Universidad Católica in Lisbon and featured the President, Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rui Miguel Nabeiro, Adolfo Mesquita Nunes, Assunção Cristas, Mário Crespo and Maria da Glória Ribeiro.
Moderated by João Marcelino, editor-in-chief of Jornal Económico, the discussion began with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address emerging challenges in various fields, ranging from higher education to business, from law to sustainability, recruitment and journalism.
When asked whether the use of Artificial Intelligence represents a change in tools or a transformation of human culture, the Vice-Chancellor of Católica, Isabel Capeloa Gil, argued that “the problem is not artificial intelligence itself, but replacement. If we think of education as merely utilitarian, its reproductive functions can be replaced by artificial intelligence. We must use artificial intelligence in a way that expands human capabilities rather than replacing them. That is the major challenge facing universities at the moment.” For Isabel Capeloa Gil, “we need to promote an ethical adoption [of AI]” because “the central issue lies not in the use of the models, but in the way they are used and, above all, in the pedagogical approach through which students are encouraged to use these tools.”
“We will secure the future if we ensure that our graduates have the opportunity to shape their own careers, rather than being dependent on short-term needs. The market needs people who think for themselves, who are highly trained, but who have the ability to reinvent themselves and bring value beyond what is planned in the short term,” the vice-chancellor emphasised, noting that maintaining the ability to read and “preserving empathy” are also crucial for the future. “A classic definition of what happens in the teaching process is that two minds enter into dialogue and there is a process of mutual transformation”, for both students and lecturers, in a “process that must be empathetic”, she explained.
Turning to the business world, Rui Miguel Nabeiro, CEO of Delta, revealed that within the group they are “learning the best way to adopt certain technologies”. “We are doing more things than we did before we had this set of tools at our disposal. It isn’t freeing up our time; rather, we are becoming more productive”, the manager explained, whilst acknowledging that there are other challenges beyond AI. “People management is the most important thing we have in our company”, reflected Rui Miguel Nabeiro, whose group has 4,000 employees and 65,000 direct customers.
Invited to analyse the impact of algorithms on society, Adolfo Mesquita Nunes, a lawyer and author of the book *Algoritmocracia*, explained that “they exploit our vulnerabilities because they aim to capture our attention for as long as possible”. “What moves us most and captures our attention is the unusual, what shocks us, what outrages us, what frightens us” – and that is precisely what algorithms will “amplify”, he explained.
“This is profoundly transformative, because it is the algorithms that choose what we see. And in companies, it is also the algorithms that will make decisions,” asserted Mesquita Nunes, explaining that there will always be a tendency to choose the efficient, logical solutions identified by AI. In this context, she argued that it will be necessary to have regulation, to scrutinise the often opaque processes underlying AI, to maintain a critical mindset and to oversee how it operates. “We must say, ‘I want to be in control of this decision-making process, even if my decision isn’t quite as efficient, as quick or as spectacular’,” she maintained.
As for Assunção Cristas, also a lawyer and former government minister, “the great challenge is to turn all these new technological possibilities into genuine drivers of sustainability”. “All this technology – artificial intelligence and the data we have at our disposal today – will help us make far better and more informed choices and decisions, including from the perspective of our impact on the environment,” argued the former Environment Minister, for whom “it would be transformative to have a clear decision on phasing out oil”.
Turning his attention to the situation in the United States, Mário Crespo, a journalist and former US correspondent, highlighted the “consequences of entrusting the management of State Departments and entire ministries to people with business experience but no political experience. This removal of professional politicians from the process of human progress is extremely dangerous. Humanism is completely lost”. As for the use of AI, he acknowledged that it can “produce sublime things”, but also brings “problems”. “Gradually, we are beginning to lower our standards in practically everything. And if something comes along that promises us a quicker, almost instantaneous solution to a complex problem – even if it might harm us in the future – we are capable of accepting the most convenient solution,” he warned.
And which human capabilities will become increasingly valuable in the near future? Maria da Glória Ribeiro, a consultant and founder of Amrop Portugal, provided the answer: “Intuition, which is the ability to make disruptive decisions, and emotion too. That is what remains for us – these human capabilities, which are unique to us”.
Referring to history, Maria da Glória Ribeiro also emphasised that “we humans have always managed to bounce back, reinvent ourselves, and keep getting better”. In her view, “universities will increasingly focus on fostering critical thinking and adaptability, rather than merely imparting knowledge. And companies will do away with uninteresting, repetitive jobs – the sort that make people count down the years until retirement. Those are the jobs machines will end up doing. We’ll be doing what really matters.”