Human Choice Key to Navigating AI's Future of Work and Learning, Forum Concludes

The future of work and learning in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) hinges on "human choice," according to experts who spoke at the 5th Hankyoreh People and Digital Forum on April 24th. The forum, held in Seoul, addressed how individuals and society can navigate the uncertainties and challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI technologies.

Carl Benedikt Frey, a professor at Oxford University, delivered the keynote address, warning that the failure to broadly distribute the benefits of new technologies could lead to public backlash and technological stagnation. He stressed the critical importance of "managing the AI transition period" through well-designed social safety nets. Frey's remarks underscored a central theme of the forum: that technological progress must be guided by human decisions and societal structures to ensure equitable outcomes.

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If the benefits of new technologies are not spread throughout society, public backlash against technology will grow, leading to technological stagnation.

Sarah O'Connor, deputy editor at the Financial Times, shared insights from her reporting on the impact of AI on workers globally. She cited negative examples where AI has increased work intensity and isolated laborers. However, O'Connor also pointed out that the impact of technology depends on who controls its implementation. "The attitude of workers changes depending on who decides the content and speed of their work," she explained. "Technology can be a tool that considers human physical and mental well-being. But this won't happen without a fight."

The forum also explored the future of learning, with Kim Hee-sam, a professor at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), suggesting that AI can serve as a personalized learning tool to cultivate "future talent" equipped with diverse skills and capable of collaboration. Lee Beom, an education critic, further proposed that AI could offer technological breakthroughs to overcome the limitations of standardized, rote learning methods often associated with university entrance exams.

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The attitude of workers changes depending on who decides the content and speed of their work. Technology can be a tool that considers human physical and mental well-being. But this won't happen without a fight.