Hebrew University professor requires 24-patent benchmark for AI work

Hebrew University data science professor Claudia V. Goldman holds 24 patents, a figure she cites as the standard for the rigor she demands of students using artificial intelligence in her classes.

Since taking an associate professor position at the Hebrew University Business School in Jerusalem in July 2024, Goldman has established specific protocols for how students interact with AI tools. She does not ban the technology but enforces strict rules on its application.

In a recent interview, Goldman stated that fully AI-generated answers are rejected. She requires students to credit the technology and explain precisely how they utilized it. She told students she can detect AI-generated writing, encouraging them to use the tools for brainstorming while maintaining a critical stance.

Students must verify whether information provided by AI is biased and check if cited sources actually exist. This process forces learners to engage with the material rather than relying on automated outputs.

Goldman assesses understanding through in-person activities, including classwork, presentations, and peer-organized discussions. These methods allow her to evaluate student comprehension directly. The curriculum also addresses human responsibility and professional values.

When asked about Bill Gates's proposal for a "Human Reserved" category of jobs, Goldman rejected a simple binary division of labor. She argued that the focus should be on understanding the benefits AI brings to specific roles and identifying the critical skills needed to strengthen human performance in those contexts.

The Business School currently offers courses such as AI for Social Good, Responsible AI, and When AI Meets Humans and Society. The university also operates a Free Listener Program that allows senior citizens to audit these courses as the fall semester begins.

Goldman’s academic background includes a BSc in computer science, mathematics, and electronics in 1991, an MSc in computer science in 1993, and a PhD in computer science in 1999. Her doctoral supervisor was Prof. Jeff Rosenschein. Before joining the Hebrew University, she held research posts at Bar-Ilan University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the University of Haifa between 1999 and 2005.

Her industry experience includes three years as a team leader at Samsung Telecom Research in Herzliya and 15 years as a research scientist in General Motors' research and development organization. At General Motors, she worked on introducing learning agents into vehicle user experiences to help drivers understand autonomous driving functions. She has published more than 50 academic papers.

Goldman was born in Argentina and moved to Israel in January 1984 at age 16. She graduated from Mae Boyer High School in Jerusalem in 1986. She met her husband, Prof. Roy Shenhar, a full professor at the Hebrew University's Institute of Chemistry, on the stairs of the Ross Building in 1995. They married in 1999.