Goldman mandates human proof for AI work

The integration of artificial intelligence into higher education has prompted a new wave of strict pedagogical standards at Israeli universities.

Prof. Claudia V. Goldman, an associate professor in the Data Science Department at the Hebrew University Business School in Jerusalem, has established specific rules for how students interact with AI in her classes.

Goldman does not ban AI tools, but she rejects fully AI-generated answers. Students must explicitly credit the technology and explain the specific ways they utilized it.

She told students that she can detect AI-generated writing, which creates an incentive for them to remain active participants in the learning process. The goal is to encourage brainstorming while maintaining critical oversight.

To ensure students understand the material, Goldman requires them to check AI outputs for bias and verify that cited sources actually exist. This practice forces students to engage with the logic behind the answers rather than accepting them at face value.

Her assessment method relies on a mix of in-person activities, including classwork, presentations, and peer-led discussions. This structure allows her to evaluate understanding directly and keeps the focus on human interaction.

The course curriculum also includes discussions on human responsibility and professional values. Goldman stated that the class examines what kind of researcher and person students should strive to be.

Goldman arrived at the Hebrew University in July 2024 after a career in industry and academia. She holds 24 patents and has published more than 50 academic papers.

Before joining the faculty, she worked for three years as a team leader at Samsung Telecom Research in Herzliya. She then spent 15 years as a research scientist in General Motors' research and development organization in Herzliya.

During her time at General Motors, she worked on introducing learning agents into the vehicle user experience. Her aim was to help drivers stay focused on the road while better understanding autonomous driving functions.

Goldman was born in Argentina and moved to Israel in January 1984 at age 16. She earned her BSc, MSc, and PhD in computer science from the Hebrew University between 1991 and 1999.

She described her decision to make aliyah to her father in 1983, telling him that she could only see herself growing up in Israel. The family moved six months later.