Singapore Management University president highlights growing role of social sciences in AI era
SINGAPORE — As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how businesses operate, governments make policy and people work, the skills needed to navigate its impact are extending far beyond technology — putting greater emphasis on human judgment, critical thinking and an understanding of society. Singapore Management University (SMU) President Lily Kong believes that shift will make the social sciences and management increasingly important in the AI era, as universities are tasked not only with teaching students how to use the technology, but also to question its output, understand its consequences and apply it responsibly. “I think that the more capable that AI becomes, the more valuable human judgment becomes,” Kong said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. For Kong, AI is not just a technological shift. As it reshapes workplaces, business decisions and public policy, universities must equip students to understand and manage its broader impact on society. She said SMU’s focus on management, social sciences and technology puts it in a strong position to prepare students for t