Monday, September 16, 2024

Heart & Mindset, MOS Certifications, Ghost Postings, AI & Facial Recognition

Just had the third class session this past Saturday :-)

Bonus Quiz 1 - Syllabus is closed. Almost all students have cleaned up and completed their A1 Accounts Setup and Professional Communication, the beginning of A2 Blog, and the first three Threaded DiscussionsBonus Quizzes 2 and 3 are awaiting remaining students to take them before this coming Saturday. Kendra, Jenae, and Karylle distinguished themselves with their excellent performance while the remaining six seventh of the class occupy the entire spectrum of coursework progress and academic efficacy as they work through the first three chapters in LabSim.

The twenty one students -- all real humans with no ghost students -- on the class roster reflect diverse backgrounds and walks of life: from freshly out of high school to seasoned professionals looking to improve their career prospects, from born and raised in Las Vegas to the newly arrived (from a neighboring state to from other side of the globe), and from suffering a fresh heartbreak to continuously adapting to life after surviving a near-fatal automobile accident!

The first of three videos below is not only for the student who is continuously adapting to life but for all students -- all people actually:

(1) Neil deGrasse Tyson's Ultimate Advice for Students & Young People - HOW TO SUCCEED IN LIFE
By Motivation2Study, July 26, 2020

Two students who have been on this planet the longest verbalized their desire to earn Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certificates to bolster their resume and marketability for the workplace. They won't qualify to compete in the annual competition by Certiport but several of their younger classmates will.

(2) Microsoft Office Specialist in the Workforce
By Certiport, February 20, 2024

Three students -- likely more -- are looking for their next/better employment. My previous blog post mentioned 'ghost students' but have you heard of 'ghost jobs'?

(3) What the Rise of Fake Job Listings Say about the Job Market
By CNBC, August 22, 2024








Click on the image for a larger and more clear view

Even if a job posting maybe 'ghost', one should still do one's best to prepare and stand out in the application and interview processes. At the very top of A3 Tailored Cover and Resume is

Artificial Intelligence: The Robots Are Now Hiring (a 10-minute video and a half-page article)
By Wall Street Journal, September 20, 2018

The first task (the only A3 task that is required for IS101-3004, Fall 2024) forms the first half of Threaded Discussion 4 by asking students to share a job hunting/interviewing experience. I will anonymize everyone's experiences and use them as a future discussion later in the semester.

I wonder how many students will reach out to me to take their Bonus Quizzes 2 and 3 before this coming Saturday? I wonder how many students will prepare for Bonus Quiz 4 to be given this coming Saturday 7 am in our classroom?

Students,

In your comment to this blog post, please

 (1) Share your thoughts on one, two, or all three videos above tri-level image.

 (2) 'The Robots Are Now Hiring' is an excellent example of using artificial intelligence (AI) in workplace or daily life. Share an example of your own. Your example must be unique, meaning if another student who commented before you used that example of AI, you must re-comment with another example that has not been used.

 (3) Share anything else that comes to your mind from reading this blog post ^_^

22 comments:

  1. 1. In the past year I've known that fake job listings have become quite common, mainly through multiple friends. However, I never knew there was a term for it. All together my friends have probably applied to hundreds of jobs and have gained little to no results, despite seeming quite qualified for each position. It's been hard for those who want to move on from their current workplace and lately, the best solution has been to gain a job through someone who already has an 'in'.

    2. AI is something I have a love-hate relationship with. As someone who has grown up pursuing art and to this day is still actively creating as a hobby, it has been terrifying to see how AI programs learn and evolve. AI programs tend to learn from existing artwork, much of which has been known to be stolen and used without consent from the original creator. It's been sad to see many artists actively being discouraged from something they love as many companies now prefer to dabble in AI to save on costs, rather than having work produced by an actual person.

    However, as someone who works in a professional setting, I understand that AI is meant to be a tool to help perform tasks more efficiently. There's no running from AI today, even in my current job AI programs such as ChatGPT are actively encouraged and used to draft documents and to bounce ideas off of.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (1) "...to gain a job through someone who already has an 'in' "... Based on your friends' experiences with ghost postings, I can see why you would deem that to be the best solution.

      (2) The learning process for artificial intelligence does not always produce viable results as this 9 min 56 sec video demonstrates:
      Why AI art struggles with hands
      By Vox on April 4, 2023
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24yjRbBah3w&pp

      (3) Yes, there is no running from people wanting to use artificial intelligence today.

      Delete
  2. 1. AI became a hot topic in the entertainment industry when studios wanted to use celebrity images created by AI without compensation. For people whose income is partly driven by their visage, this usage of AI was and still is a threat to their livelihood. AI images have created moral and ethical issues in multiple industries, and laws are developing regarding its use.

    2. I was previously aware of Ghost Jobs, During Covid they were very prevalent. Companies were stockpiling resumes for future use when people could return to work. I began to see the same patterns in the way the jobs were posted and for how long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have some formatting issues such as an unnecessary blank line at the bottom of your comment and punctuation or capitalization issue in your #2 depending how you want to fix the first sentence. But more importantly, you transposed your answers -- please re-read my instructions toward the bottom of my post and re-comment (you cannot edit a published comment in Blogger) accordingly.

      Delete
  3. 1. The meaning of life is to make your own meaning and what you want that meaning to be and how you make the most of what you have. And you will have set backs on the way of that meaning and through life as a whole. Life will never not be bringing you down, but it is your job to get back up and not let it push you down, and it will not matter with what you look like or rather what religion you are, there will always be problems to pass over.

    2. I have always seen AI as something that is unnecessary, but the people that I know that talk about it say, that it is the most useful thing and can be used for everything. With AI I have seen everyone use it for writing a paper with no real effort from the person that puts their name at the top of the paper, through and through I find AI something that is used as a convenience more than a tool that gradually helps you along the way, not something that does all the work for you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1.“I will now become a lifelong learner.” This line had a massive impact on me. In life, we have experienced ups and downs. And in every situation that we face, we learn something from it. So, instead of dwelling on the negative impact, try to see the positive side of the situation.

    2.AI for me has a good and bad side depending on why you are using it. Example when you are editing pictures sometimes you need to use AI if you want a clean photograph, but sometimes other people use AI to fake some images in a negative way that harms other people’s image.

    3.Investing time in learning and doing something on your own will help you carry out things in the future.

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1. I watched the first video and to be honest I don't like it. I don't like when people try to contain my reality in a box. I want to live my life my own way, and create or find the answers for myself.
    2.One example of AI being worked in the workplace is how phone call centers use AI to direct people to what service they need. We have all called a Walgreens or our credit card company and an AI answers. I would say this method is very helpful for the company but very frustrating for the customers.
    3. One thing I am thinking about is gratitude. I just want to thank you for the care you have for your students and how you are trying to motivate them to create meaning in their life.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1. I really enjoyed hearing about having the grit and determination to navigate through life and keep pushing forward. I was always using the excuse of hanging around certain people that brough me down in life, that kept me from graduating high school. But at the end of the day, it was my choice to be around those losers that never really motivated me in doing something good with my life. I could’ve navigated my life correctly, and not be stuck in the situation that I’m in now. But everything happens for a reason, there are far worse things that could have happened to me. Now I am here in college and very soon I will have an AA degree. I would like to keep pushing forward and learning most that I can.

    2. I agree in the video one hundred percent if you try working with someone that has no knowledge at all with Excel without any training they are going to go nuts. Trying to figure things out while you guys are waiting on whatever task you need to get done for that job. I find myself freaking out at times when I’m trying to understand simple tasks. But as time has been going on in the class. I view the LabSim as a video game now. I am getting better at it the more I practice. I still have questions sometimes when I get stuck. I don’t want to get ahead of myself because I am sure I’m going to have lots of questions in the future. But I’m trying my best.

    3. I think it is a little discouraging that there hasn't been any laws passed for these ghost jobs out there in the world. On one hand I do understand that the company is always out looking for the best. But it can also be inhumane to not care about the next man or woman that has just graduated college. Now they're out putting the best possible work for a good looking resume, to land a job they have studied years for to get. I think it is cruel in a way, and they really don't care to stop and really think about what they are doing, but it is there business, so what can you do?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ii. One thing that comes to mind after reading several posts to get an idea, is the vacuum that we used to have. We would have the little robot on throughout the day. The little robotic vacuum cleaner did an okay job, but

      Delete
    2. ii. One thing that comes to mind after reading several posts to get an idea, is the vacuum that we used to have. We would have the little robot on throughout the day. The little robotic vacuum cleaner did an okay job, but I don't think they will ever get to the level of actual humans. I was a cleaner before and I took a lot of pride in my job. I'm sure there is many people out there with the same heart.

      Delete
  7. 1. I watched the first video a few times to really understand and grasp the intended message. During the video Neil deGrasse had an experience with Carl Sagan which confused him at first with thinking of himself as a nobody until he realized that he was somebody to Mr. Sagan. It accrued to me at that moment during the video that I share in that experience with Professor Wu. During his announcements and lectures he's willing to not only cretic us, but also encourage us to do the best in pursuit of our achievements not just doing well in that pursuit.

    2. ChatGPT is another example of the extent of AI has become. This AI has the ability to be a great tool for use of writing and language, however when it comes to siting a source of written, video, or verbal communication it can sometimes create ghost sources if it doesn't really know where a source came from or how to find it. This shows that with most AI that even though they can be very helpful tools in society. They are limited to the extents of their programs and are not without flaw.

    3. Ghost jobs I believe is one of the best examples that advances in technology and AI is not always going to lead to a better system. AI has created a tool of disconnection when it comes to the hiring workforce process. Being that the old system of needing to go to a desired job establishment, fill out a paper application including a resume, and sit down with an actual person to not only put a face to a name, but interact with an individual. With AI everything is mostly done with little to no human interaction which I believe has been a far more troublesome way of boosting the workforce than how it was done the old fashion way. Old saying being if it's not broke, don't fix it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 1. I watched the 3rd video, I figured that most of the places I applied had no intention of hiring me. But the real problems is that completely innocent and don't know any better.

    2. I remember back in high school Chat GPT had just started becoming main stream with student's. I had a computer science class and when Chat GPT became main stream a good chuck of them started using it so it go to the point were the teacher had to personally check if your code was written by you.

    3. It made me realize how much AI has effected us in such a short amount of time.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 1. Fake job postings have become a fertile ground for scammers, offering enticing job opportunities that do not exist. These scams often trick applicants into paying fees under the guise of registration or other processes, leaving them deceived and out of pocket. Many qualified individuals find themselves applying to numerous positions with little success, unaware that some listings are fraudulent. This scenario has made it increasingly challenging for people seeking new job opportunities, pushing them to rely more on personal networks than the traditional methods.

    2. AI-powered personal finance apps have streamlined how individuals manage money by analyzing spending patterns and providing tailored budgeting advice. This automation reduces the demand for professional accountants and statisticians who traditionally performed these tasks. However, it also offers these professionals opportunities to focus on more complex and strategic roles, leveraging AI to enhance their analytical capabilities in financial planning and decision-making.

    3. AI is however a revolutionary tool in the world of works and among the professional environments. This is because AI is efficient with some tolerable degrees of error. A situation that makes productivity choose AI over humans. This duality of AI—seen as a lazy approach to work, vrs its productivity will forever leave the debate going

    ReplyDelete
  10. 1.It's nice thing to have a certify of Microsoft and as for the ghost jobs they are scams or other kinds of ways to ask for information from you.
    2. I had a classmate in high school that used an ChatGPT to write an essay about a stock company and was expose in front the class because you are supposed to kinda talk about the company and teacher pull up and check the google docs of the time he done it said in couple second AI generated a whole essay and copy in down on the essay.

    ReplyDelete
  11. (1) Reflections on the Videos
    What I liked most was Neil deGrasse Tyson's advice: be curious, not afraid to fail. That is a good reminder that learning is about the process, not the grade. The video on MOS certification made me realize how important such practical skills as Microsoft Office are when it comes to job prospects. The 'ghost jobs' video was an eye-opener because I wouldn't have thought such a thing was possible, and I'll surely be more careful when applying for jobs.

    (2) AI applied to the workplace or daily use:
    Anything could be that, including Google Maps, which I use a lot. It doesn't just give directions; it predicts traffic, shows ways of going faster, and even adjusts to my habits. It is a very useful day-by-day tool powered by AI.

    ReplyDelete
  12. 1) My Thoughts
    I've watched all the videos and while I am a Neil deGresse Tyson super fan I have decided to speak about the second video posted by Certiport. I may be under the influence of the MOS Microsoft Practice Exam that I just took a couple hours ago but I now understand and respect people who work in an office setting as those were no joke. Between the time crunch and trying to do everything the assignment tells you to do word for word it was easily my most stressful moment in college this far. With all of this being said, I understand the importance of obtaining a MOS certificate and how helpful that would be in the field. This makes me want to work even harder to pass the exams!

    2) AI Experience
    While I haven't had much experience with AI, I would actually like to mention something I find pretty cool about it. I'm not fully sure this applies but in some countries, people have had robots work as servers but behind the screen would be actual people talking to you. Mostly old people or people who can no longer work. I found it pretty cool that AI was being used to help human connection.

    3) I am very glad that we didn't have any ghost students in our class. We have all been working hard to pass this course this semester!

    ReplyDelete
  13. 1. a I really enjoyed hearing about having the grit and determination to navigate through life and keep pushing forward. I was always using the excuse of hanging around certain people that brough me down in life, that kept me from graduating high school. But at the end of the day, it was my choice to be around those losers that never really motivated me in doing something good with my life. I could’ve navigated my life correctly, and not be stuck in the situation that I’m in now. But everything happens for a reason, there are far worse things that could have happened to me. Now I am here in college and very soon I will have an AA degree. I would like to keep pushing forward and learning most that I can.
    b I agree in the video one hundred percent if you try working with someone that has no knowledge at all with Excel without any training they are going to go nuts. Trying to figure things out while you guys are waiting on whatever task you need to get done for that job. I find myself freaking out at times when I’m trying to understand simple tasks. But as time has been going on in the class. I view the LabSim as a video game now. I am getting better at it the more I practice. I still have questions sometimes when I get stuck. I don’t want to get ahead of myself because I am sure I’m going to have lots of questions in the future. But I’m trying my best.
    c I think it is a little discouraging that there hasn't been any laws passed for these ghost jobs out there in the world. On one hand I do understand that the company is always out looking for the best. But it can also be inhumane to not care about the next man or woman that has just graduated college. Now they're out putting the best possible work for a good looking resume, to land a job they have studied years for to get. I think it is cruel in a way, and they really don't care to stop and really think about what they are doing, but it is there business, so what can you do?
    2. Something that comes to mind after reading several comments, is the AI vacuum that we used to use years ago. It wasn't perfect, but we did notice the difference from when it was being used. The ZoombaRoomba didn't clean perfectly, but we put it to good use while we had it. Nothing last forever i guess, I still agree that humans do the best at normal tasks like cleaning and so on.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 1. a I really enjoyed hearing about having the grit and determination to navigate through life and keep pushing forward. I was always using the excuse of hanging around certain people that brough me down in life, that kept me from graduating high school. But at the end of the day, it was my choice to be around those losers that never really motivated me in doing something good with my life. I could’ve navigated my life correctly, and not be stuck in the situation that I’m in now. But everything happens for a reason, there are far worse things that could have happened to me. Now I am here in college and very soon I will have an AA degree. I would like to keep pushing forward and learning most that I can.
    b I agree in the video one hundred percent if you try working with someone that has no knowledge at all with Excel without any training they are going to go nuts. Trying to figure things out while you guys are waiting on whatever task you need to get done for that job. I find myself freaking out at times when I’m trying to understand simple tasks. But as time has been going on in the class. I view the LabSim as a video game now. I am getting better at it the more I practice. I still have questions sometimes when I get stuck. I don’t want to get ahead of myself because I am sure I’m going to have lots of questions in the future. But I’m trying my best.
    c I think it is a little discouraging that there hasn't been any laws passed for these ghost jobs out there in the world. On one hand I do understand that the company is always out looking for the best. But it can also be inhumane to not care about the next man or woman that has just graduated college. Now they're out putting the best possible work for a good looking resume, to land a job they have studied years for to get. I think it is cruel in a way, and they really don't care to stop and really think about what they are doing, but it is there business, so what can you do?
    2. Something that comes to mind after reading several comments, is the AI vacuum that we used to use years ago. It wasn't perfect, but we did notice the difference from when it was being used. The ZoombaRoomba didn't clean perfectly, but we put it to good use while we had it. Nothing last forever i guess, I still agree that humans do the best at normal tasks like cleaning and so on.
    These AI machines or websites don't have what it takes to give out proper information the way that humans do. Because we experience many unique different things in life everyday. each person experiences different things that no robot will ever experience. They might come really close from all the data they extract from the Web. But I think if you're pretty good with the computer, eventually you can catch on, or think something is up.

    ReplyDelete
  15. 1) In the first video, Neil deGrasse Tyson's Ultimate Advice for Students & Young People, what stood out to me was when he said we shouldn’t just memorize facts but understand why things are the way they are. I’m the kind of person who likes to start from the very beginning—Part 1, Step 1—no matter the topic. I feel like you can’t fully grasp a concept unless you understand why it works the way it does. I’ve always wondered if this is a specific learning style or if it comes from doing puzzles and building things with my grandmother when I was younger. Either way, it simplifies life and gives meaning to things we might otherwise overlook.

    2) I use AI every other day. My dryer has AI assistance built in to improve how well things are cleaned and to shorten drying times. It’s been super helpful, especially when I’m busy or when I put bedding in the dryer. I used to have to restart the dryer two or three times just to get a comforter or large load completely dry, but now AI takes care of that for me. I use an app called Smart Things to monitor my loads. In the app, I can update my drying time or take suggestions from the AI built into my machine. The AI takes into account the weight of the material and what it is. There are suggested presets built in to optimize dryness and care for the fabric of specific materials. The built-in AI is also able to monitor the dampness of my laundry loads. It will alert me via the Smart Things app and adjust the time needed to completely dry the materials.

    I enjoy AI for operating convenience but, I do not believe it should be used to generate images or videos of people who did not authorize those creations. Also, I am someone who enjoys art. I believe putting things in a system to generate art or sound can be helpful for specific needs but, it does take away the authenticity. It removes all of the things that make art wonderful. If it were up to me, AI would only be used for operating conveniences in regards to manual labor and, it would not be allowed to generate anything that resembles someone or their likeness.

    ReplyDelete
  16. (1) Based on the video of Microsoft Office Specialists in the Workforce I saw how beneficial it is having a MOF certification. I have seen how competitive the job market is and I truly believe anything that helps you stand out can result in being chosen for a job. As the video showed, many of today's Microsoft softwares are used daily. I don’t believe the field of work matters Microsoft will most likely be used at many jobs. The video also stated that many employers can feel much better and trust an employee they are looking to hire. Bridging a certification shows employers that the individual has had “..prove they have met some level of industry standard”

    (2) I have had a recent encounter with AI on a traveling site. I am not surprised AI has started to be integrated into the travel industry but I was not aware. I was recently browsing for flights for this upcoming holiday season. Of course prices are high but there was an AI feature that tracked all details of upcoming flights not just price changes. It was very detailed and personalized. The AI started showing me my preferred airlines. I assume from previous searches it easily was able to find which airlines I look into more. Another way I saw AI being implemented into travel sites was the personalized travel agent. Rather should I call it personalized travel AI. This feature was offering me so many options such as preferred hotels, possible car rentals, points of interests.It was basically chatting with AI and it was so useful that it made the set up for the trip so much easier. Although I do wonder what are the negatives of AI in the travel industry? Possibly not providing the least expensive flights since it doesn't align with your previous viewing? Maybe showing little price changes since the data the AI is reading shows some are interested in flying around specific dates? Very useful tool but I don’t fully trust it is there to help 100% there probably is a catch to it.

    (3) One thing that comes to mind after reading was how AI is being viewed depending on where you stand. For example, big companies looking to hire see no issue at all implementing AI and going off computer data to make a judgment rather than giving an interviewee the chance to present themselves to another person. Being someone who is new to the job force and wanting to start a career with a degree that I am pursuing, I can’t help to think of all the competition there is. Being unable to provide the “correct” data to an AI interview or not having what the AI is programmed to look for seems very difficult. I believe having a human present during an interview or overlooking it helps the process and gives everyone a fair shot. I don't think AI would be able to detect a person's ambition or determination in a job setting. I think somethings can only be seen in person and more importantly by human judgment

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  17. 1) Ghost jobs can feel especially discouraging when applying for entry-level roles. It’s frustrating to invest time in applications only to find out the listing may not be real.

    2) AI could be used positively or negatively depending on the person. I've seen a lot of people using AI to create their own art and market it as their own, which discredits many artists' hard work. I personally use AI when I want my emails for work to sound more professional or just to improve them.

    3) AI could be a very dangerous tool in this day and age, so individuals need to be able to distinguish real from fake. There are a lot of key factors that you can point out to distinguish AI from something real but a lot of people just scroll by and choose to blindly believe what they see at a glance.

    ReplyDelete
  18. 1) The Rise of Ghost Jobs is super interesting and makes sense and after watching the video of CNBC's explanation of why it happens, it changes the situation to be more or less annoying. If you are leaving a job post open because you want to find the "right" employee, then it is understandable and makes sense. Still, if the job post is left open out of laziness to close it or if the position is no longer available then it's just messed up and not fair to the people who are looking for a job and spending their time applying to a position that they would never even be acknowledged to. I had an encounter once with a Ghost Job in the past and I'm just now realizing that even to this day they never got back to me...

    2) I do use AI here and there, and let me tell you how well it works! One of the ways I use AI in the workforce is for creating organized lists and charts of data (This was before I was educated in Excel and Word) It was fast and easy and I could just ask the chatbot If I had already added the customer's information down to the list or order them a part if I haven't already. I also use AI for assistance with my readings for another class, I read a chapter and ask the AI for a detailed summary of what happened, and If I am still confused about anything then I know that I can ask the chatbot and it would help me break things down!

    3) I feel like even thought AI has its ups and downs, there are still things that makes sense for AI to do rather than human because its just faster and more accurate than a human could. One of the most important things would be to be careful with what information you give the chat bot becasue you have no clue what they could be doing with the information as well.

    ReplyDelete