UTEP College of Education explores the future of AI work, education in El Paso

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Artificial intelligence is changing how people work and learn. The University of Texas at El Paso College of Education gathered more than 100 leaders on Tuesday to shape A.I.'s future in El Paso's education.

"Conversations about AI focus so much on the technology and platforms being utilized, but we know that at the end of the day it is our people we need to focus on," said Clifton Tanabe, the College of Education's dean.

Through the Built Here Summit, leaders discussed how the El Paso region can make an A.I. framework to prepare students and workers for the future economy, UTEP said.

"There's something unique about the way in which we do work," Tanabe said. "I think that's something we can lean into. We're certainly doing it right now, and we've done it in other areas. In education, for example, we've created the leading pipeline in teacher preparation right here in El Paso."

Workforce leaders from Microsoft and Workforce Solutions Borderplex spoke at the summit about practices and policies businesses use to protect workers from being displaced by A.I.

"AI is a tool for educators and students to use; it cannot teach," said Catherine Tabor, president of the Computer Science Teachers Association. "Educators are still needed in the classroom to introduce students to the pursuit of knowledge and a love of learning."

Tanabe said it's important to make sure humans are in the center of work.