Parami leads dialogue on responsible and effective use of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how we learn, work, and communicate, making the responsible and effective use of these tools an essential skill for today’s students and young professionals. This theme took center stage during a virtual roundtable discussion hosted by Parami University on October 30, 2025. The event brought together diverse panelists, including faculty, staff, and final-year students who are deeply engaged with AI and its expanding role in education and society.

Held under the theme “Youth and AI in Education and Beyond: Learning to Use Technology Responsibly and Effectively,” the conversation explored both the vast possibilities and growing challenges of AI, not only its academic and professional benefits, but also the ethical considerations and potential risks that come with its use.

The event drew a diverse audience, including community school teachers, university students, and high school students interested in the use of AI in teaching, learning, and broader contexts. Everyone showed up with real curiosity about how AI can shape teaching, studying, and the world they’re stepping into.

Dr. Win Maw Hlaing Oo, Chair of the Division of Mathematics and Science, raised a critical question about how users can apply AI in their lives in an inclusive and meaningful way.

"In our classrooms, we have students from incredibly diverse backgrounds," Dr. Win Maw Hlaing Oo observed. "These differences mean they've encountered unique life experiences, daily struggles, and perspectives on any given problem or issue. Can AI truly account for and incorporate such varied contexts? Can it share in human empathy the way we do? These are questions worth asking. By pondering them, we begin to understand how, as humans, we can add real value to AI-generated ideas and concepts and elevate them beyond mere automation into something truly meaningful and inclusive."

Each panelist shared personal experiences with AI, highlighting the sense of both excitement and responsibility that comes with new technological tools.

Dr. Nwe Nwe Htay Win, drawing from her own classroom encounters, gave a candid and relatable warning.

 "AI isn't always right, you know. Sometimes it just hallucinates,” she said. It makes up answers with total confidence! I've had moments where I gently push back, "Hey, that wouldn't work for someone like me,' and suddenly it flips and gives me a completely different answer. That's why I always tell my students and everyone here today: please don't hand over your brain to the machine. No matter how smooth or certain the reply sounds, keep your own thinking switched on. That little habit of double-checking is what keeps us human."

From the university's operational perspective, Mason, EdTech Manager at Parami University, provided a behind-the-scenes look at how an online institution is already using AI in day-to-day teaching and learning support.

"As an online university, we have to make sure the virtual classes are engaging and run smoothly," Mason explained. "One of the AI features we've implemented is an intelligent troubleshooting system. Unlike traditional methods that list dozens of possible issues, our AI uses a convergent approach, which quickly pinpoints the exact problem and suggests precise solutions. This has dramatically reduced downtime and technical frustration for both students and faculty."

The majority of people who use AI in their daily lives include students. They rely on it for their studies and even for personal matters, such as seeking guidance, getting counseling, or simply having a conversational partner.

Final year students majoring in Statistics and Data Science, May Thiri Phyoe and Bhone Khant, brought the conversation to life by sharing how AI supports their studies, from helping generate ideas to improving writing and research efficiency. They discussed the motivations behind using AI, emphasizing curiosity, adaptability, and the importance of ethical awareness. Their stories revealed how AI can empower learning when used thoughtfully and purposefully.

When I first encountered AI, I couldn't believe my eyes.  It felt almost unbelievable,” Bhone Khant recalled his first time using AI. “I even thought, 'This is something I could use every single day. But at Parami University, especially in courses related to AI and technology, we started learning about its consequences.” 

May Thiri Phyoe added an important layer by pointing to the broader social impact of AI algorithms. She explained how platforms group content around our interests, which is convenient but also limits what we see.

"We all know that social media platforms rely heavily on algorithms. On the positive side, they conveniently group and show us content that matches our interests, beliefs, and worldview. But the downside is that we rarely get exposed to different opinions, lifestyles, struggles, or emotions that don't fit our existing bubble." 

Bhone Khant highlighted that while AI is incredibly helpful, there is growing awareness of how it collects and stores personal data, how it can influence decision-making, and how over-reliance on it may weaken critical thinking and natural abilities. He stressed the importance of not oversharing personal information with AI tools and avoiding excessive dependence on them, noting that responsible use of AI is essential. Building on this, May Thiri Phyoe reinforced the message with a clear takeaway: don’t treat everything trending as truth. Pause, question, and think outside the algorithm.

As Parami University continues to drive digital-age leadership in Myanmar and the region, moments like this show what the mission is really about, not just tech skills, but cultivating thinkers who question, lead with integrity, and shape the future of AI instead of letting it shape them.