Hankyoreh Human and Digital Forum to explore future of work and learning in AI era

The fifth annual Hankyoreh Human and Digital Forum is set to convene on June 24, focusing on the theme “The Future of Work and Learning in the AI Era.” This gathering aims to explore how technology can be harnessed to prioritize human well-being.

Experts from South Korea and across the globe will convene to examine new strategies and solutions as generative AI continues to reshape the employment landscape and disrupt traditional educational models. The forum seeks to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this rapid technological advancement.

A historical perspective on automation will be presented, drawing parallels with the introduction of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the 1970s. While ATMs were predicted to eliminate bank teller jobs due to cost and speed efficiencies, the reality proved more complex. Banks expanded, and tellers shifted to relational finance roles, demonstrating that automation can complement human labor. However, the subsequent rise of mobile banking led to a significant decline in teller positions, illustrating that the relationship between automation and employment is not linear and depends heavily on context and institutional frameworks.

Keynote speaker Carl Benedikt Frey, a professor at Oxford University and a renowned economist, will address the forum. Frey, known for his 2013 article predicting significant job susceptibility to automation, will discuss how institutional and political decisions, rather than technology alone, shape AI's impact on employment. His lecture, titled “Designing the Future of Work in the AI Transition: Conditions for Good Jobs and Sustainable Progress,” will draw lessons from historical transformations, such as the Industrial Revolution, to guide attendees in overcoming anxiety and navigating the evolving nature of human labor.