Goldman sets strict verification rules for AI use in Jerusalem data science courses

Prof. Claudia V. Goldman has implemented new protocols in her data science classes at the Hebrew University Business School in Jerusalem. The rules require students to document their use of artificial intelligence tools and prohibit fully AI-generated assignments. Goldman stated that students must credit the technology and explain the specific methods they employed to complete tasks.

The associate professor has been with the department since July 2024. She holds 24 patents and has published more than 50 academic papers. Her professional background includes 15 years as a research scientist at General Motors' research and development organization in Herzliya. Before that role, she worked for three years as a team leader at Samsung Telecom Research. Her academic career began with research posts at Bar-Ilan University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University of Haifa between 1999 and 2005.

Goldman earned her PhD in computer science from the Hebrew University in 1999. Her doctoral supervisor was Prof. Jeff Rosenschein. She previously completed a BSc in computer science, mathematics, and electronics in 1991, and an MSc in computer science in 1993. She was born in Argentina and moved to Israel in January 1984 at age 16. She finished secondary school at Jerusalem's Mae Boyer High School in 1986 and subsequently served in the army.

In a recent interview, Goldman explained that she tells students exactly when and why they may use AI tools. She said fully AI-generated answers are not accepted and that students are aware she can detect machine-generated writing. Instead, she encourages students to brainstorm with AI while maintaining a critical perspective. This involves checking whether information is biased and verifying that cited sources actually exist.

The professor assesses student understanding through a combination of classwork, presentations, and peer-organized activities. These in-person interactions allow her to evaluate comprehension directly. The curriculum also includes discussions on human responsibility, values, and the kind of professional a student aims to become.

The Hebrew University Business School offers related courses such as AI for Social Good, Responsible AI, and When AI Meets Humans and Society. The university also runs a Free Listener Program that permits senior citizens to audit courses. The fall semester has already begun.

During her time at General Motors, Goldman worked on integrating learning agents into the vehicle user experience. The goal was to help drivers stay focused on the road while better understanding autonomous driving functions.

Goldman discussed Bill Gates's proposal for a 'Human Reserved' concept, which would designate certain jobs exclusively for people. She stated that the issue is not a simple binary regarding which professions remain human. In her view, the focus should be on understanding the benefits AI offers in different roles and the critical skills needed to strengthen them.

Goldman met her husband, Prof. Roy Shenhar, on the stairs of the Ross Building on the Givat Ram campus in 1995. They met a third time, prompting him to offer ice cream according to Hebrew custom. They married in 1999. Goldman's grandparents moved to Argentina before relatives were killed in the Holocaust. Her parents were born in Argentina, and she was their only child. She attended a Jewish school in Buenos Aires through seventh grade, studying in Yiddish, Hebrew, and Spanish. She told her father in 1983 that she could only see herself growing up in Israel. The family made aliyah six months later.