Nobel Prize Winner Cautions on Rush into Stem After Rise of AI

Jan 2, 2024 ·

Nobel Prize winner and Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert Professor Stephen Hawking has cautioned against the world's rush into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) education in the wake of the rapid advancement of AI. While acknowledging the importance of STEM for developing the skills necessary to operate in the digital age, Hawking warned that it is wrong to assume that all students should be encouraged or compelled to pursue STEM studies as a means of gaining employment in the future.

The warning comes at a time when many countries are encouraging their citizens to study STEM-related subjects due to the growing impact of AI on society. For example, in the United States, President Joe Biden has announced plans to invest heavily in STEM education. Similarly, China has made strides in AI development, introducing policies to ensure that its citizens acquire the necessary skills to remain competitive in the global AI industry.

However, according to Professor Hawking, this approach ignores the fact that AI will continue to automate a large number of jobs, leaving those without appropriate skills with few opportunities for employment. As such, he stressed the need to invest in other areas of education, such as the humanities and social sciences, as these subjects will enable individuals to develop the soft skills that will be needed to collaborate with AI and benefit from its advancements.

Professor Hawking also highlighted the need to understand the ethical implications of AI, emphasizing the importance of teaching ethics to students to prepare them for a future where AI may become increasingly autonomous. He warned of the potential risks posed by unchecked AI development, such as job losses or even AI-induced disasters, and urged governments and businesses to invest in AI safety research to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring.

In conclusion, Professor Hawking emphasized that investments in STEM education should not come at the expense of other subjects, but should instead be complemented by investments in other fields of study. While noting the potential of AI to revolutionize society, he warned against becoming too dependent on the technology, highlighting the importance of diversification and understanding the ethical implications of AI development.