Dr. Mirza Rayana: Why The Truth of Using A.I Isn’t The Same As Understanding It.

Dr Mirza Rayana argues that surviving and thriving in an AI-driven future requires moving beyond mere tool consumption to deep literacy and original thinking. She contends that relying solely on automated outputs risks stripping away human authenticity, that overusing AI leads to a loss of personal identity, and that true progress comes from doing the hard, messy work of foundational thinking before inviting technology to challenge or refine one's ideas. Dr Mirza Rayana is a teaching and research track lecturer at Monash University Malaysia and an upskilling instructor specializing in applied AI and sustainable infrastructure. Bridging academic research and real-world impact, she speaks on AI literacy, responsible tech integration, overcoming industry bias, and guiding the next generation of graduates to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting workforce. She appears on this episode of the Hello Mentor podcast to discuss: ● Using AI vs. Truly Understanding AI: She breaks down the distinction between basic consumer-facing AI (like chat interfaces) and true AI literacy, emphasizing the need to understand data collection, training, privacy, and underlying system mechanics.

● Hidden Computation and Environmental Costs of AI Trends: Using viral social media photo trends as an example, Dr. Mirza discusses the invisible computational, energy, and cooling resource costs required behind the scenes for mass AI generation.

● Democratizing Creation & How AI Impacts the Future Workforce: Addressing fears around job displacement, Dr. Mirza explains that technological shifts remove redundant tasks while creating entirely new fields advising individuals to build strong foundational skills rather than trying to predict career safety.

● The Concept and Risks of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): She defines AGI as systems capable of human-level reasoning and autonomous decision-making, sharing her personal concerns about its rapid advancement and the societal need to manage its rollout carefully.

● Gender Dynamics and Personal Experiences as a Woman in Tech: Dr. Mirza opens up about early career belittlement and dismissive experiences in male-dominated boardrooms, explaining how those moments inspired her to create supportive, inclusive environments for future researchers.

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