Souvick Ghosh, PhD
Assistant Professor, SJSU School of Information
AI Faculty Fellows, SJSU College of Information, Data and Society
“The nature of work is evolving. Is your job unsafe? Probably not. But do you need to know about AI? I think: absolutely.”
Souvick Ghosh (PhD) is an Assistant Professor at San José State’s School of Information in the College of Information, Data & Society. His research focuses on designing human-centered AI (HCAI) and exploring best practices in the ethical use and application of AI technologies. Dr. Ghosh was recently appointed as one of SJSU’s inaugural cohort of AI Faculty Fellows – a new campus-wide initiative that aims to support the campus community in navigating the social, academic and professional changes brought about by AI.
The fellowship recognizes the professional contributions of 12 SJSU faculty members, each representing a different discipline but all of whom are engaged in innovative research on the ethical and actionable uses of AI technology. Fellows will serve as an advisory collective as the SJSU community learns and integrates AI-forward educational perspectives and methods. Students and faculty should stay tuned for related educational resources, research and events.
As Fellows, Dr. Ghosh says, “We are asking our students to ride the AI bus, and we are the drivers or conductors helping to steer them on the right path.”
The role of advocate and thought-leader is an intuitive fit for Dr. Ghosh, who also co-developed the iSchool’s Human-Centered AI Certificate and is now in the preparatory stages of offering Human-Centered AI as a Minor program.
While Dr. Ghosh himself comes from a Computer Science background, he is highly attentive that many students and faculty, even those who regularly use AI software, feel daunted or confused when engaging with the technical and computational dimensions. He hopes that through his work as a Fellow, he can encourage students from all backgrounds and expertise that there is a place for them in the evolving conversation and adoption of AI technology. This is especially crucial as both students and faculty see how AI is rapidly transforming the future of their chosen fields. Dr. Ghosh hopes to help the community prepare for cross-sectoral, broad-scale integration of AI:
“The nature of work is evolving” but not in ways that are necessarily predictable or set in stone. “Is your job unsafe? Probably not. But do you need to know about AI? I think absolutely.”
In his work, Dr. Ghosh observes the full range of attitudes toward AI – from confident adopters and regular users to those who are curious but uncertain, and also many who feel concerned or even antagonistic about AI’s implementation and impact. For example, he notes the concern over risk with AI, stating:
“Certain things work better with AI, but it comes with a cost. So is the cost worth it? That’s why we need those dialogues.”
He also recognizes that students and faculty frequently have different considerations, concerns and interests. But far from considering these disparities a problem, he emphasized the need for diverse perspectives and open dialogue. His primary concern is that, regardless of one’s opinion on AI, it is crucial to be educated and informed about both its potential and its risks.
“You may hate AI, but unless you know AI, how can you be a part of the conversation?”
Towards this goal, Dr. Ghosh and the AI fellows helped create the newly launched AI Literacy Essentials Course. The program, offered through Canvas, is self-paced and designed for both students and faculty at SJSU. Offering a range of perspectives, modules cover everything from coding and prompting to social justice and environmental impact to sector-specific applications and use-cases. By bringing the subject down to earth and appealing to a breadth of interests, this course is a vital resource for developing a holistic and grounded understanding of AI.
Realizing that it is an opportunity that also comes with responsibility, Dr. Ghosh takes his role as a Fellow seriously as he works to help guide SJSU through a period of intense transition, innovation and uncertainty. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration – not only within professional and academic fields, but also across disciplines.
This value is reflected in his research, as he has worked not only across sectors of the LIS field but also with computer scientists, public health professionals and political scientists. He points to this cross-disciplinary mindset as a key lesson for students and faculty to embody as society is undergoing significant shifts in the academic and professional landscapes. When we work together, not only do these changes become more navigable, but they can truly be exciting avenues for the campus community to progress together.