AI will transform academia through its integration
Carlos Reyes, director of Continuing Education at INTEC, shared how artificial intelligence is integrated into the training of future professionals and how it transforms research.
SANTO DOMINGO. - “Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data will allow us to accelerate processes, even reaching levels of estimation, as there is enormous potential and academia will notice the difference,” he stated. Carlos reyes, Director of Continuing Education of the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) during a Panel on the influence of AI and big data to improve processes.
Reyes was a panelist during the “Innovation and Quality Meeting: Driving Excellence in the Productive Sectors”, organized by the National Association of Companies and Industries Herrera (ANEIH), together with Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM) and the Dominican Council for Quality (Codoca).
During the panel moderated by Gianna Franjul, Vice Minister of Industrial Development of the MICM, and interim Secretary General of CODOCA, Reyes explained the advantages of artificial intelligence for data collection.
“AI, specifically with the function called “natural language processing,” allows us to evaluate very large volumes of text, correcting essays using the natural patterns of how humans process written language. Let’s say that, in one hour, I can analyze 150 essays, theses, or monographs,” he explained in his presentation.
He added that “at the research level, with natural language processing and bioanalytics, we can conduct comparative studies of papers and scientific studies at record speed. Furthermore, by combining this with big data, we can identify areas where further research is needed.”
In her remarks, Reyes indicated that INTEC has more than 12 programs focused on innovation, four of which incorporate artificial intelligence into their curriculum. These include the Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Data Science, and two diploma programs offered by the Continuing Education Department: Artificial Intelligence Applied to Strategic Communication and Artificial Intelligence Applied to Digital Community Management.
Challenges and opportunities of using AI and digital transformation
When addressing the challenges and opportunities regarding ethics in the use of AI, Pascal Peña, coordinator of Postgraduate Legal Sciences at PUCMM, stated that “we have great opportunities, obviously, issues of efficiency, etc., but we have great challenges that range from the cost of implementation to the education of the users themselves.”
He also emphasized the need for an updated, principles-based legal framework. “It’s important to clarify here that the idea isn’t to regulate artificial intelligence itself, but rather the principles that govern it,” he stated.
When asked about technology strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises, Yara Fermín, Director of Information Technology Development at Altice, stressed the importance of identifying pain points in order to automate and digitize what matters most.
“Digital transformation is not just about technology; it’s a way of thinking, making decisions, and creating value. It doesn’t mean we’re going to overspend on infrastructure and human resources, but rather that we need to transition with a purpose,” he said.
Innovation and Quality Meeting
In his welcoming remarks, the president of the organization, Ángelo Viro, emphasized that, if the goal is a more competitive country, it is necessary to strengthen the institutional framework, technical training, infrastructure, and a culture of quality from the productive base.
“Investing in quality is not a cost, but an investment in trust, reputation, and the future. The path to excellence is traveled with coordination, a shared vision, and common goals,” he shared in his inaugural speech.
The second panel, titled “Digital transformation in the effectiveness of quality management in the production sector”, was moderated by Jessica Calcagno, executive director of ANEIH.
The event featured the participation of Eric Moreno, Academic Director of Operations and Innovation at Barna; raphael matthew, general manager of Suprema Qualitas and master in Artificial Intelligence; and david abreu, Director of Industrial Development of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SMEs (MICM), who shared their perspectives on the impact of digital tools on process optimization and strengthening competitiveness in the country's industries.