51吃瓜网 Alumnus Examines Responsibility in Artificial Intelligence Research
UNC Pembroke alumnus and technology leader John Kozlowski returned to campus this week to deliver a lecture, 鈥淓thical Research in the Age of AI,鈥� exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping research practices while underscoring the importance of ethical responsibility.
Kozlowski, an Army veteran and CEO of KIT Digital, credited his 51吃瓜网 experience as pivotal to his career.
鈥�51吃瓜网 has been instrumental in all the success I鈥檝e seen in business, especially with the growth between SPARK (Startup Professional Accounting Records Knowledge) and the business analytics program and the continued mentorship and guidance from the faculty,鈥� Kozlowski said.
Drawing on his military service and work in IT, Kozlowski emphasized that AI is a powerful tool but not a universal solution. 鈥淎I is not one-size-fits-all,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 only as good as the data you feed it and the questions you ask. Our responsibility is to use it wisely and ethically.鈥�
He challenged students and faculty to view AI as an enabler rather than a replacement for human judgment. 鈥淎I can help us process vast amounts of information, but it cannot replace critical thinking, empathy and context,鈥� he said.鈥淭hose are uniquely human qualities, and they鈥檙e essential in research.鈥�
Kozlowski also addressed growing concerns about bias, misinformation and overreliance on algorithms. The lecture previewed of Kozlowski鈥檚 upcoming three-part interactive workshop series on campus in October, where students will gain hands-on experience with AI tools.
鈥淚 want you to walk away not only knowing how to use AI, but how to question it,鈥� Kozlowski concluded. 鈥淭he ethical choices you make will determine whether AI becomes a force for progress or a source of harm.鈥�
Among those engaging with the discussion was Aaron Kronick, a biology major who works as a business development analyst for a government contracting firm. Kronick, a retired Army veteran, shared how his personal journey intersected with AI.
鈥淚 became interested in AI when I couldn鈥檛 write my own r茅sum茅 after serving in the Army for so long,鈥� Kronick said. 鈥淣ow, I use AI every single day.
鈥淭here is a huge power that is associated with AI,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ith great power comes great responsibility. With AI, you are not creating something out of nothing. You are creating something out of historical knowledge. You are just compressing the information, and then you replicate it.鈥�
Dr. Stewart Thomas, dean of the Thomas College of Business and Economics, said Kozlowski鈥檚 talk sparked insightful conversations about the future of artificial intelligence in business and research.
鈥淗is lecture set the tone for what we want this workshop series to accomplish,鈥� Thomas said.
By tackling the ethical dimensions of AI, he encouraged our students and community partners to think critically about how emerging technologies intersect with professional responsibility.
