Nasreen Quadir || May 20, 2025

The 2025 Student Leadership Conference at CUNY SPS brought students, educators, and thought leaders together to examine one of the most transformative issues of our time, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Through a series of dynamic sessions held from April 7–11, the conference explored how AI is rapidly reshaping industries such as healthcare, disability studies, and education. The conference prompted urgent conversations about ethics, equity, and responsible implementation.

A core theme that emerged across the sessions was the dual nature of AI’s impact. AI has the ability to drive innovation and opportunity, but also the potential to deepen inequities if not carefully managed. Some speakers addressed the importance of advancing AI literacy among students in the “Advancing AI Literacy: Insights, Tools, & Competencies for Students”, integrating AI tools into inclusive education, and understanding how AI affects marginalized communities. Other sessions such as the “Ethical Hiring Trends: Navigating Talent Selection and Advancing Your Career in the Age of AI” focused on ethical hiring trends, language services, and designing AI systems that do not perpetuate ableism or discrimination.

The conference featured CUNY SPS graduate students from the Visionary Voices program, an initiative that empowers students to lead academic research and advocacy alongside industry experts. Together, they emphasized the importance of developing responsible AI citizens who can lead the charge in shaping ethical, human-centered AI policies in their respective fields.

The event highlighted a clear message about the impact of AI. It is fundamentally transforming both traditional forms of learning and the very nature of work. Lifelong learning, adaptability, and a proactive approach to technology adoption will be critical in this new AI-driven era.