Gabilondo inaugurates the Summer University in Gandia centred in the challenges of artificial intelligence and critical thinking

Under the motto 'Fake knowledge. Education and research in the Artificial Intelligence era', the ceremony was presided over the principal of the Universitat de València, Juan Luis Gandía, and the mayor of Gandia, José Manuel Prieto, accompanied by the vice-principal for Culture, Sports and Social Engagement, Albert Moncusí. Other members of the university management council, representatives of the Board of Trustees of the UV, of the Generalitat Valenciana, of the Town Hall of Gandia and of different academic, cultural and social institutions also attended the event.

The principal as well as the mayor agreed with Gabilondo about the need to address the deep changes resulting from the irruption of artificial intelligence from a critical and humanist perspective.

In his speech the principal of the Universitat de València, Juan Luis Gandia, highlighted that the motto of the 43rd edition of Summer University of Gandia is response to the environment influenced by the rapid artificial intelligence developments and the uncertainties due to them.

As he stressed, the democratisation of content creation tools has multiplied "our capacity to create, but also to forge, distort and confuse", a reality that poses a challenge "not only technological, but also epistemological and political". To confront this narrative, he advocated for the role of the university as a space for critical knowledge and reflection, and stated that "the overabundance of data does not produce knowledge, just noise, fragmentation and loss of judgement". For that reason, the principal defended that higher education institutions must contribute to educate citizens who are able to "think critically, deliberate publically and act responsibly" to face current challenges.

In the case of the mayor of Gandia, José Manuel Prieto pointed out that artificial intelligence is already "the new technological reality" and remarked that, despite the opportunities for the improvement of efficiency and precision offered by it,"It does not replace the consciousness, sensibility or human gaze in any case". In that sense, he highlighted that the UEG invites to reflect on the hindrances posed by AI "in uncertain universal times" and he also stressed the need to build "a humanistic space out of emotions", as well as the role of cities, democratic institutions and journalism capable of "helping us to understand and share with optimism and enthusiasm" the current challenges.

During the inaugural conference, Gabilondo framed the irruption of artificial intelligence in a complex process of social transformation which he defined as an authentic "change of era". In that sense, he warned that emerging technologies suggest some concerns that still do not have definitive answers and reminded that "we still are in the first minute of the match", referencing the need to address these changes with caution, critical spirit and analytical capacity.

The journalist pointed out that artificial intelligence simultaneously creates expectations and concerns, but he insisted on that the main challenge is not to predict the future, but to comprehend the present historical moment. According to his explanation, our society is living a stage marked by uncertainty, where "a world is ending and another one is beginning", a circumstance that provokes the rethinking of production mechanisms and knowledge transmission. .

Gabilondo defends the need to reinforce democratic institutions, education and critical thinking in front of the risks resulting from the concentration of technological and economical power. Moreover, he highlighted the role of Europe as a space of protection of rights, liberties and democratic values in a global context each time more complex.

Les reflexions compartides durant l'acte inaugural marcaran bona part de l'esperit d'una edició que, al llarg de les pròximes setmanes, reunirà professorat, investigadors, professionals i estudiantat al voltant de 16 seminaris distribuïts en quatre modalitats formatives. La programació es completarà amb activitats culturals i divulgatives obertes a la ciutadania, convertint una vegada més la Universitat d'Estiu de Gandia en un espai de trobada, debat i pensament crític sobre els grans desafiaments contemporanis.