Korea University President Kim Dong-one speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the main building of the university's campus in Seongbuk District, Seoul, April 9. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes classrooms and research, universities are being called to redefine their role — not as passive adopters of technology, but as institutions that cultivate individuals capable of using AI as a tool while safeguarding human dignity and intellectual autonomy.

Korea University unveiled “Next Intelligence” as its core vision to mark its 120th anniversary last year and has continued to advance the concept since. It frames intelligence as a partnership between humans and AI, working together to enhance and extend each other’s capabilities rather than compete for dominance.

“The core mission of university education is no longer simply to deliver knowledge,” Korea University President Kim Dong-one told The Korea Times in a recent interview. “It is to fulfill the role of a Next Intelligence University — one that teaches what AI cannot replace: how to ask meaningful questions and how to choose values.”

He emphasized that the rise of AI presents both new opportunities and fundamental challenges for universities.

“The current moment calls for higher education to reexamine and answer a more basic question — why universities exist in the first place, as simply delivering knowledge is no longer enough to define their role.”

Kim pointed to the lack of sufficient discussion and preparation for what may come after AI advances to a level comparable to human capabilities.

In response, he outlined two key roles for universities in the AI era.

Kim said that while it is inevitable for institutions to advance cutting-edge technologies by supporting research in AI-related fields, he stressed that an equally — if not more — important role lies in strengthening education in the humanities and social sciences.

Korea University President Kim Dong-one delivers a speech during the university’s 120th anniversary ceremony at its campus in Seongbuk District, Seoul, May 2025. Courtesy of Korea University

Source: Korea Times News