AI Era and Caregiving Ability

South Korea is embarking on an ambitious national project centered around artificial intelligence (AI), appointing Han Sung-sook, the former minister of SMEs and Venture Business, as the new Prime Minister. The government views her as the ideal candidate to lead the nation's AI transformation and secure its future in advanced digital technologies, signaling a comprehensive national effort to reorganize around AI.

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The government is reorganizing the entire nation's capabilities around artificial intelligence.

This fervor for technological advancement is significantly impacting the public education system. Educational superintendent candidates across the political spectrum have pledged to prioritize "AI digital education." Promises include the widespread adoption of AI digital textbooks (AIDT) in classrooms, providing each student with a personal device, and implementing AI-powered personalized learning tutors. This shift suggests schools are increasingly becoming digital training grounds rather than institutions for holistic development.

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It is becoming increasingly difficult to shake the concern that public education's responsibility for the future society is rapidly tilting solely toward digital technology literacy.

The article raises concerns about this rapid digital integration, noting the doubling of required information technology classes in elementary and middle schools. It questions whether this intense focus on digital literacy is overshadowing the development of crucial human skills. When students become engrossed in their device screens, the article suggests, they may lose opportunities for direct, face-to-face interaction with teachers and peers, potentially eroding the ability to read emotions and engage in meaningful communication.

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As technology rapidly replaces human roles, shouldn't the ability for humans to directly face each other become even more important?

Beyond the classroom, the piece advocates for a re-evaluation of educational goals, emphasizing the importance of "caregiving ability", the capacity to relate to and care for vulnerable individuals like children, patients, and the elderly. It argues that in an era prioritizing remote interactions and automation, the ability to connect with others directly is becoming paramount. This skill, often historically relegated to women or the domestic sphere, needs to be a central focus of public education. The author posits that caregiving fosters empathy, mutual respect, and a foundation for democratic citizenship, ultimately nurturing more humane and capable individuals in the age of AI.

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What is essential for future citizens is not digital competence, but human-centered, human-oriented human values.