Generative AI in Communication Careers: Training for Critical Thinking, Not Just Tools
How can we best support future communication professionals in navigating the rapid and profound transformations driven by generative AI? This central question was the focal point of a tailored training session, designed and led by SCAI-Éducation for students in the Master’s in Communication Careers program at CELSA Sorbonne Université
Beyond Technique: Rethinking Professional Practices
The goal of this intervention was not merely to showcase the latest technological advancements or list the trendiest tools on the market. Instead, it focused on fostering concrete, strategic reflection regarding the evolution of professional practices, core skills, and the future day-to-day tasks of these students.
To provide a structured approach for this reflective analysis, the session revolved around several fundamental questions:
-
Which daily activities will be fully automated?
-
Which ones will be effectively augmented by artificial intelligence?
-
What purely human skills will retain essential and distinctive value?
-
To what extent should ethical transparency be maintained when using AI in professional deliverables?
-
How can professionals actively exercise critical thinking when facing automatically generated content?
An Active and Participatory Pedagogy
To address these forward-looking challenges effectively, we prioritized a dynamic and highly participatory approach. The session seamlessly alternated between theoretical insights, open discussions, stimulating debates, and hands-on scenarios. This format allowed future communication experts to engage directly with real-world complexities and develop a healthy, analytical mindset toward disruptive technologies.
Acknowledgments
A huge thank you to the students for their exemplary engagement, the high quality of the discussions, and the depth of the questions raised throughout the morning.
We would also like to thank the teams at SCAI-Éducation, and particularly Marco Salazar and Clotilde Chevet (Head of the SCAI Education Hub), for co-creating and ensuring the success of this wonderful educational initiative.