Simplify life and develop soft skills: astronaut Steve Smith
Kochi / July 12, 2024
Kochi, July 12: Veteran American astronaut Steve Smith today hailed Kerala’s introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in school syllabus and suggested aspiring space travellers to “simplify life” for stronger focus and perseverance.
“True, scientific temper and engineering knowledge are essential for anyone looking forward to becoming a space flyer. Equally importantly, you need to develop soft skills that enable effective personal interaction,” he noted while speaking to the media at India’s pioneering International Conclave on Generative Artificial Intelligence.
Lauding the state for integrating AI learning in textbooks (of class-7), the famous NASA astronaut spoke of its futuristic necessity, recalling the inaugural speech by Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan at the July11-12 event, organised in the city by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation in association with IBM.
The government, which is anticipating more AI-based investment in the upcoming years, is giving AI training to teachers on artificial intelligence, Shri Vijayan had told delegates at the start of the event aimed at imparting momentum to Kerala’s transformation into a knowledge economy.
The 65-year-old Smith noted that an increasing interest in space science among countries has been particularly evident in the last decade during which the countries across the globe launched a total of 10,000 rockets. “We have 1,800 new companies in the field in the last ten years,” he added.
A veteran of four space-flights covering 16 million miles besides seven spacewalks totalling close to 50 hours, he said the earth continues to be the most suitable planet for the mankind. “Some may say it’s time we found ways to re-settle people on the Mars, when the earth is getting ‘overcrowded’. Not at all! This is still the best place for us to live,” he said. “In any case, reaching the Mars involves a travel of nine months; that way the Moon is an easier destination in three days. Such migrations may happen; but only after millions of years later. Not in the next two centuries or so.”
To a question, Smith said AI was unlikely to boost studies about demystifying UFOs. Space debris, he cited, can be of worry. “We have technologies that ensured their plunging into our oceans. Studies are on in NASA to enable their deflection to avert possible collisions with earth,” he pointed out.
Smith had, at a session in the conclave yesterday, lauded India’s ‘audacious’ goals and relentless mind-set in achieving its lunar mission. Noting that the job of an astronaut is mission-driven, he said India can be proud of its progress and take forward the space programme with resilience and grit.
ENDS
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