Is The Rapid Rise of AI a Wakeup Call for the Humanity of Education?

 

As an experienced educator, I am writing a series of articles titled “Education Through the Knowledge of Nature”. Through this endeavor, I aim to broaden perspectives and encourage individuals to rediscover the profound value of education alongside the love and wisdom that Mother Nature imparts.

 

Part Twenty: Is The Rapid Rise of AI a Wake‑up Call for the Humanity of Education?

After watching recent interviews with After watching recent interviews with a technology billionaire, I identified these key takeaways:

• • Robots and AI may replace 10–20% of human jobs within the next ten years.
  • AI’s capabilities will surpass human performance in many knowledge domains.
  • Many goods and services will become cheaper, but unemployment may increase.
  • AI and robots will produce more food, housing, and goods than people can consume.

These findings raise serious concerns:

• • What defines being human — intelligence, consciousness, or something more than data and computation?
  • What will the next generation look like if they study and work alongside robots?
  • How will humanity flourish if unemployment rises?
  • What will education look like if many roles are automated?

Could the growth of AI lead to a loss of human connection and civility?

I remember growing up in a poor village with no internet, game zones, or computers. Yet we were raised with intelligence and wisdom because our social connections were strong: children played traditional games together without hesitation. Many of us learned music and could sing. Today, despite better material conditions and advanced technology, I see more social isolation and signs of distress. The rising number of children diagnosed with autism and the increase in suicide rates worldwide suggests we may be entering a different kind of civilization, not necessarily a healthier evolution.

Thinking back to my childhood: in grade one I walked to school every day. My homeroom teacher once rode me home because I lived far away — an act of care I will never forget. My mother’s gentle scolding taught me right from wrong and helped me change. Teachers and students had deep, lasting connections; our high school class visited our homeroom teacher every year until she passed away. Those human bonds feel like they are fading now. I worry: will such connections survive in an era when robots replace human roles? The rise of AI is widening the gap between rich and poor, destabilizing society, and diminishing human creativity. 

My question contrasts with the optimism of many technology leaders: might the rise of AI erode the transmission of human values and social cohesion? I welcome your perspective.

According to the Dao, human connection is an irreplaceable flow. When we resist this flow, nature restores balance through disruptions like climate change and instability.