Professor mandates 24-patent standard for AI use in data science classes

Prof. Claudia V. Goldman has established a strict framework for artificial intelligence use in her data science courses at the Hebrew University Business School in Jerusalem.

Goldman, who has served as an associate professor in the Data Science Department since July 2024, tells students explicitly when and why they may employ AI tools. She requires that all technology use be credited and explained in detail. Fully AI-generated answers are rejected, and Goldman notes that students are aware of her ability to detect machine-written text.

Instead of banning the technology, she encourages students to use AI for brainstorming while maintaining a critical stance. This involves checking whether information is biased and verifying that cited sources actually exist. Her background includes 24 patents and more than 50 academic papers, reflecting a career that spans academia and industry.

Goldman evaluates students through a combination of classwork, presentations, and peer-organized activities. These in-person interactions allow her to assess understanding directly. The curriculum also addresses human responsibility and values, discussing what kind of researcher and professional students should become.

In a recent interview, Goldman addressed Bill Gates’s proposal for a Human Reserved concept, which would reserve certain jobs for people. She argued that the issue is not a binary choice of which professions remain human. Rather, it requires understanding the benefits AI brings to different roles and the critical skills needed to strengthen those roles.

Her academic path began in Argentina, where she was born and attended a Jewish school through seventh grade. She moved to Israel in January 1984 at age 16 and completed her education at the Hebrew University, earning a BSc in 1991, an MSc in 1993, and a PhD in 1999. Her doctoral supervisor was Prof. Jeff Rosenschein.

Between 1999 and 2005, Goldman held research positions at Bar-Ilan University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University of Haifa. She then worked in industry for 18 years, including three years as a team leader at Samsung Telecom Research in Herzliya and 15 years as a research scientist at General Motors’ research and development organization in the same city.

At General Motors, she worked on learning agents for vehicle user experiences to help drivers understand autonomous driving functions. The Business School currently offers courses such as AI for Social Good, Responsible AI, and When AI Meets Humans and Society. The Hebrew University’s Free Listener Program also allows senior citizens to audit these courses as the fall semester begins.