On Friday, 13 December 2024, professionals from various sectors gathered at the Centre for Security & Digitalisation (CVD) in Apeldoorn for the mini-workshop "AI for dummies". This workshop, organised by the Professional Learning & Development Centre (PLD), the Digital Society Institute (DSI) and the CVD, was led by Assistant Professor Matthias de Visser from the Entrepreneurship & Technology Management (ETM) section at the University of Twente.
According to Mariska de Roo, business developer at the Digital Society Institute of the University of Twente, the workshop aimed to inspire professionals and provide them with practical tools to understand AI better. “AI applications are everywhere these days, but many professionals struggle to understand what this technology means for their work”, said De Roo. “With this workshop, we want to give them an accessible introduction to how AI works and what they can do with it.”
Inspiring examples and ethics
During the workshop, participants listened to a compelling deepfake speech by ‘Steve Jobs.’ “The remarkable thing is that we barely notice it anymore,” said De Visser, illustrating the rapid advancement of AI technology. The session also explained how Netflix uses machine learning to generate personalised recommendations and how spam filters are trained with AI.
Ethical issues were also discussed. “We shouldn’t fear the technology itself but rather how we use it,” emphasised De Visser. He cited examples where AI can go wrong, such as facial recognition systems issuing incorrect fines.
Practical applications
Participants built their own machine-learning model using Orange software. With datasets, they developed an algorithm capable of identifying spam messages. “Machine learning often seems complex, but with the right tools, it’s surprisingly accessible,” said De Visser. This exercise gave participants valuable insights into how AI can be practically applied in their own fields.
Flexible, demand-driven approach
The workshop aligns seamlessly with the CVD’s mission to provide demand-driven and flexible education. According to De Roo, this approach is vital to meet the growing need for knowledge and skills in AI. “I applaud the fact that we can offer new activities in a flexible and demand-driven way,” said De Roo. “This fits perfectly with the CVD’s mission and the needs of professionals.”
High demand
“The workshop was fully booked in no time, which shows the strong demand for accessible AI training,” noted De Roo. Given its success, more sessions are likely to be organised in the future. Interested parties can visit the Professional Learning & Development Centre (PLD) website for updates on upcoming events.
About the CVD
The Centre for Safety and Digitalisation (CVD) focuses on key challenges in digitalisation and security. It brings together knowledge institutions, companies and government organisations to work together on research and education in the field of digital security. The CVD supports professional development and research, with the University of Twente being one of the founding partners.
