February 5th (Asia Today) — Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant future. They are rapidly expanding into fields once thought to be uniquely human, such as translation, medical diagnosis, law, and content creation. The potential for human-level general AI is now being openly discussed, and its impact is widely seen as greater than any previous technological advance.
Optimists foresee a long-awaited utopia. Self-driving cars will rule the roads, AI assistants will handle household chores and administrative tasks, doctors will provide more precise treatment with AI support, and teachers will focus on personalized education. AI, like electricity and the Internet, is expected to be a general-purpose technology that increases the productivity of the entire economy. Some forecasts suggest that annual productivity growth could increase by about 1 percentage point over the next decade, accelerating research and development and sustaining long-term economic expansion.
However, history presents a more complicated picture. Generic technologies often reduce productivity in the early stages because it takes time for companies and workers to adapt and reorganize. This so-called productivity J-curve may also apply to AI. This is because high implementation costs and training requirements slow down the benefits and concentrate them in a limited number of companies and industries.
More pressing concerns arise in the labor market. Automation is already replacing administrative and repetitive tasks, while medium-skilled jobs are shrinking. As AI evolves from generative models to autonomous agents and physical systems, even highly educated workers may struggle to find stable employment. While a small group with advanced AI skills may enjoy higher wages, many others face job insecurity, raising fears of a society dominated by algorithms and humans treated as expendable.
The debate over whether AI will lead to utopia or dystopia ultimately centers on one question: Will AI replace humans? The answer lies in understanding the fundamental difference between artificial intelligence and human intelligence. While AI excels at processing vast amounts of data and making predictions, humans interpret context, make decisions under uncertainty, and weigh ethics and values. Humans also build trust through empathy, communication, and responsibility.
In the age of AI, what matters most is not intelligence per se, but wisdom, the ability to reflect on purpose, distinguish between right and wrong, and respect others. Rather than competing with AI, humans must cultivate complementary capabilities that guide technology in constructive directions.
The future shaped by the AI revolution is still open. Its success or failure depends on whether individuals and society can acquire the knowledge, technology, and wisdom appropriate to this era. Continuous learning is essential, as is an education that goes beyond test scores to foster curiosity, critical thinking, ethics, and responsibility.
At a societal level, education systems need to move away from providing standardized knowledge. As AI handles information retrieval and analysis, priorities must include creativity, problem definition, collaboration, and lifelong learning. Universities need to be closely aligned with labor market needs, while labor systems need to become more flexible and merit-based.
Vocational training and retraining is equally urgent. In an era where employment is rapidly changing, education once received is no longer sufficient to last a lifetime. Governments, businesses and schools must work together to support mid-career workers and vulnerable groups. At the same time, governance frameworks that ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in the use of AI are essential to building public trust.
Artificial intelligence can augment human capabilities rather than replace them. True competitiveness in the AI era will come not only from algorithms, but also from the intellectual synergy created by humans and AI working together. What we need now is intentional investment in people, not abstract optimism or fear.
Lee Jeong-hwa is the head professor of the Department of Economics at Korea University. The views expressed are the author’s own.
— Asia Today reported. Translation by UPI
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Korea original report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260205010002059
