On the evening of October 29, the 16th @World "Touching Academic Frontiers" International Exchange Event was successfully held in the Corner Conference Room on the second floor of the School of Computer Science. The event featured Professor Lily Petriashvili, Vice Dean of the School of Information and Control Systems at Georgian Technical University, as the special guest. Centered on the theme "The Transformative Role of AI Assistants in Modern Work and Educational Environments," the session focused on frontier applications of AI technology. It deeply explored how AI assistants, particularly Microsoft 365 Copilot, are reshaping modern work styles and educational models, establishing a high-quality platform for students to understand the practical implementation of AI in productivity scenarios.
During the keynote sharing session, Professor Lily Petriashvili focused on Microsoft 365 Copilot. From both academic and practical perspectives, she systematically analyzed the integration path of AI technology with the Microsoft productivity ecosystem. She pointed out that traditional information processing and document creation are often time-consuming and laborious. As a secure and reliable AI assistant, Copilot is deeply integrated into office components such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It provides intelligent support in document writing, data analysis, presentation design, email management, and team collaboration, thereby significantly enhancing efficiency and creativity. Drawing on her own research in distributed systems and data analysis, she also used multiple enterprise case studies to vividly illustrate the practical value of AI automation in optimizing operational processes, assisting decision-making, and saving costs.
During the interactive session, students engaged in discussions with the professor regarding the application of Copilot in scenarios such as academic data processing and multilingual office work. Drawing on her rich experience as an IEEE transactions editor, international journal editorial board member, and international conference organizer, Professor Petriashvili answered questions one by one, offering insights that possessed both academic foresight and practical guiding significance.
This exchange event not only expanded the students' understanding of innovative applications of AI technology in different scenarios but also provided valuable references for their future study and research in related fields. The School of Computer Science will continue to rely on the @World "Touching Academic Frontiers" international platform to focus on more technological frontiers, continuously broaden students' academic horizons, and contribute to the construction of the academic ecosystem and the cultivation of high-quality talent.
About the Speaker:
Lily Petriashvili is a Professor at Georgian Technical University and the Vice Dean for Research and International Affairs at its School of Information and Control Systems. With over 24 years of experience in teaching and research, she holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Georgian Technical University (1993) and a PhD from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany (1995).
Her research interests cover artificial intelligence, business process modeling, distributed systems, data analysis, and the application of information technology in education and management. She has led and participated in numerous domestic and international research projects, including Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, NATO SPS, and Rustaveli Foundation programs, and has published more than 160 academic works (including monographs and textbooks). Proficient in German (C1), Russian (C1), and English (B2), she also has rich experience in IEEE affairs, serving as an editorial board member of international journals and an organizer of international conferences.
