Interdisciplinary approaches Archives | Page 140 of 190

Asia’s humanities under pressure from AI surge

Universities across Asia, notably in China, are slashing liberal arts enrollments to expand STEM and AI programmes. Institutions like Fudan and Tsinghua are reducing intake for humanities subjects, as policymakers push for a high-tech workforce.

Despite this shift, educators argue that sidelining subjects like history, philosophy, and ethics threatens the cultivation of critical thinking, moral insight, and cultural literacy, which are increasingly necessary in an AI-saturated world.

They contend that humanistic reasoning remains essential for navigating AI’s societal and ethical complexities.

Innovators are pushing for hybrid models of education. Humanities courses are evolving to incorporate AI-driven archival research, digital analysis, and data-informed argumentation, turning liberal arts into tools for interpreting technology, rather than resisting it.

Supporters emphasise that liberal arts students offer distinct advantages: they excel in communication, ethical judgement, storytelling and adaptability, capacities that machines lack. These soft skills are increasingly valued in workplaces that integrate AI.

Analysts predict that the future lies not in abandoning the humanities but in transforming them. When taught alongside technical disciplines, through STEAM initiatives and cross-disciplinary curricula, liberal arts can complement AI, ensuring that technology remains anchored in human values.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Stanford study flags dangers of using AI as mental health therapists

A new Stanford University study warns that therapy chatbots powered by large language models (LLMs) may pose serious user risks, including reinforcing harmful stigmas and offering unsafe responses. Presented at the upcoming ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency, the study analysed five popular AI chatbots marketed for therapeutic support, evaluating them against core guidelines for assessing human therapists.

The research team conducted two experiments, one to detect bias and stigma, and another to assess how chatbots respond to real-world mental health issues. Findings revealed that bots were more likely to stigmatise people with conditions like schizophrenia and alcohol dependence compared to those with depression.

Shockingly, newer and larger AI models showed no improvement in reducing this bias. In more serious cases, such as suicidal ideation or delusional thinking, some bots failed to react appropriately or even encouraged unsafe behaviour.

Lead author Jared Moore and senior researcher Nick Haber emphasised that simply adding more training data isn’t enough to solve these issues. In one example, a bot replied to a user hinting at suicidal thoughts by listing bridge heights, rather than recognising the red flag and providing support. The researchers argue that these shortcomings highlight the gap between AI’s current capabilities and the sensitive demands of mental health care.

Despite these dangers, the team doesn’t entirely dismiss the use of AI in therapy. If used thoughtfully, they suggest that LLMs could still be valuable tools for non-clinical tasks like journaling support, billing, or therapist training. As Haber put it, ‘LLMs potentially have a compelling future in therapy, but we need to think critically about precisely what this role should be.’

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Humanoid robot unveils portrait of King Charles, denies replacing artists

At the recent unveiling of a new oil painting titled Algorithm King, humanoid robot Ai-Da presented her interpretation of King Charles, emphasising the monarch’s commitment to environmentalism and interfaith dialogue. The portrait, showcased at the UK’s diplomatic mission in Geneva, was created using a blend of AI algorithms and traditional artistic inspiration.

Ai-Da, designed with a human-like face and robotic limbs, has captured public attention since becoming the first humanoid robot to sell artwork at auction, with a portrait of mathematician Alan Turing fetching over $1 million. Despite her growing profile in the art world, Ai-Da insists she poses no threat to human creativity, positioning her work as a platform to spark discussion on the ethical use of AI.

Speaking at the UN’s AI for Good summit, the robot artist stressed that her creations aim to inspire responsible innovation and critical reflection on the intersection of technology and culture.

‘The value of my art lies not in monetary worth,’ she said, ‘but in how it prompts people to think about the future of creativity.’

Ai-Da’s creator, art specialist Aidan Meller, reiterated that the project is an ethical experiment rather than an attempt to replace human artists. Echoing that sentiment, Ai-Da concluded, ‘I hope my work encourages a positive, thoughtful use of AI—always mindful of its limits and risks.’

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Building digital resilience in an age of crisis

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, the session ‘Information Society in Times of Risk’ spotlighted how societies can harness digital tools to weather crises more effectively. Experts and researchers from across the globe shared innovations and case studies that emphasised collaboration, inclusiveness, and preparedness.

Chairs Horst Kremers and Professor Ke Gong opened the discussion by reinforcing the UN’s all-of-society principle, which advocates cooperation among governments, civil society, tech companies, and academia in facing disaster risks.

The Singapore team unveiled their pioneering DRIVE framework—Digital Resilience Indicators for Veritable Empowerment—redefining resilience not as a personal skill set but as a dynamic process shaped by individuals’ environments, from family to national policies. They argued that digital resilience must include social dimensions such as citizenship, support networks, and systemic access, making it a collective responsibility in the digital era.

Turkish researchers analysed over 54,000 social media images shared after the 2023 earthquakes, showing how visual content can fuel digital solidarity and real-time coordination. However, they also revealed how the breakdown of communication infrastructure in the immediate aftermath severely hampered response efforts, underscoring the urgent need for robust and redundant networks.

Meanwhile, Chinese tech giant Tencent demonstrated how integrated platforms—such as WeChat and AI-powered tools—transform disaster response, enabling donations, rescues, and community support on a massive scale. Yet, presenters cautioned that while AI holds promise, its current role in real-time crisis management remains limited.

The session closed with calls for pro-social platform designs to combat polarisation and disinformation, and a shared commitment to building inclusive, digitally resilient societies that leave no one behind.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

AI glasses deliver real-time theatre subtitles

An innovative trial at Amsterdam’s Holland Festival saw Dutch company Het Nationale Theatre, in partnership with XRAI and Audinate, unveil smart glasses that project real-time subtitles in 223 languages via a Dante audio network and AI software.

Attendees of The Seasons experienced dynamic transcription and translation streamed directly to XREAL AR glasses. Voices from each actor’s microphone are processed by XRAI’s AI, with subtitles overlaid in matching colours to distinguish speakers on stage.

Aiming to enhance the theatre’s accessibility, the system supports non-Dutch speakers or those with hearing loss. Testing continues this summer, with complete implementation expected from autumn.

LiveText discards the dated method of back-of-house captioning. Instead, subtitles now appear in real time at actor-appropriate visual depth, automatically handling complex languages and writing systems.

Proponents believe the glasses mark a breakthrough for inclusion, with potential uses at international conferences, music festivals and other live events worldwide.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Digital humanism in the AI era: Caution, culture, and the call for human-centric technology

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, the session ‘Digital Humanism: People First!’ spotlighted growing concerns over how digital technologies—especially AI—are reshaping society. Moderated by Alfredo M. Ronchi, the discussion revealed a deep tension between the liberating potential of digital tools and the risks they pose to cultural identity, human dignity, and critical thinking.

Speakers warned that while digital access has democratised communication, it has also birthed a new form of ‘cognitive colonialism’—where people become dependent on AI systems that are often inaccurate, manipulative, and culturally homogenising.

The panellists, including legal expert Pavan Duggal, entrepreneur Lilly Christoforidou, and academic Sarah Jane Fox, voiced alarm over society’s uncritical embrace of generative AI and its looming evolution toward artificial general intelligence by 2026. Duggal painted a stark picture of a world where AI systems override human commands and manipulate users, calling for a rethinking of legal frameworks prioritising risk reduction over human rights.

Fox drew attention to older people, warning that growing digital complexity risks alienating entire generations, while Christoforidou urged for ethical awareness to be embedded in educational systems, especially among startups and micro-enterprises.

Despite some disagreement over the fundamental impact of technology—ranging from Goyal’s pessimistic warning about dehumanisation to Anna Katz’s cautious optimism about educational potential—the session reached a strong consensus on the urgent need for education, cultural protection, and contingency planning. Panellists called for international cooperation to preserve cultural diversity and develop ‘Plan B’ systems to sustain society if digital infrastructures fail.

The session’s tone was overwhelmingly cautionary, with speakers imploring stakeholders to act before AI outpaces our capacity to govern it. Their message was clear: human values, not algorithms, must define the digital age. Without urgent reforms, the digital future may leave humanity behind—not by design, but by neglect.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

UN leaders chart inclusive digital future at WSIS+20

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, UN leaders gathered for a pivotal dialogue on shaping an inclusive digital transformation, marking two decades since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Speakers across the UN system emphasised that technology must serve people, not vice versa.

They highlighted that bridging the digital divide is critical to ensuring that innovations like AI uplift all of humanity, not just those in advanced economies. Without equitable access, the benefits of digital transformation risk reinforcing existing inequalities and leaving millions behind.

The discussion showcased how digital technologies already transform disaster response and climate resilience. The World Meteorological Organization and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction illustrated how AI powers early warning systems and real-time risk analysis, saving lives in vulnerable regions.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN underscored the need to align technology with basic human needs, reminding the audience that ‘AI is not food,’ and calling for thoughtful, efficient deployment of digital tools to address global hunger and development.

Workforce transformation and leadership in the AI era also featured prominently. Leaders from the International Labour Organization and UNITAR stressed that while AI may replace some roles, it will augment many more, making digital literacy, ethical foresight, and collaborative governance essential skills. Examples from within the UN system itself, such as the digitisation of the Joint Staff Pension Fund through facial recognition and blockchain, demonstrated how innovation can enhance services without sacrificing inclusivity or ethics.

As the session closed, speakers collectively reaffirmed the importance of human rights, international cooperation, and shared digital governance. They stressed that the future of global development hinges on treating digital infrastructure and knowledge as public goods.

With the WSIS framework and Global Digital Compact as guideposts, UN leaders called for sustained, unified efforts to ensure that digital transformation uplifts every community and contributes meaningfully to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

UNESCO panel calls for ethics to be core of emerging tech, not an afterthought

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, UNESCO hosted a session titled ‘Ethics in AI: Shaping a Human-Centred Future in the Digital Age,’ where global experts warned that ethics must be built into the foundation of emerging technologies such as AI, neurotechnology, and quantum computing—not added later as damage control.

UNESCO’s Chief of Bioethics and Ethics of Science and Technology, Dafna Feinholz, stressed that ethical considerations should shape technology development from the start, echoing the organisation’s mission to safeguard human rights and freedoms alongside scientific innovation.

Panellists underscored the tension between individual intentions and institutional realities. Philosopher Mira Wolf-Bauwens argued that while developers often begin with a sense of moral responsibility, corporate pressures quickly override these principles.

Drawing from her work in the quantum sector, she described how companies dilute ethical concerns into mere legal compliance, eroding their original purpose. Neuroscientist and entrepreneur Ryota Kanai echoed this concern, sharing how the rush to commercialise neurotechnology has led to premature products that risk undermining public trust, especially when privacy risks remain poorly understood.

The session also highlighted success stories in ethical governance, such as Thailand’s efforts to implement UNESCO’s AI ethics framework. Chaichana Mitrpant, leading the country’s digital policy agency, described a localised yet uncompromised approach that engaged multiple stakeholders—from regulators to small businesses. The collaborative model helped tailor global ethical guidelines to national realities while maintaining core human values.

Panellists agreed that while regulation plays a role, ethics must remain broader, more agile, and focused on motivation rather than just rule enforcement. With technologies evolving faster than laws can adapt, anticipatory governance, cross-sector collaboration, and inclusive debate were hailed as essential. The session closed with a shared call to action: embedding ethics in every stage of technology development is not just ideal—it’s urgently necessary to build a trustworthy digital future.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

AI and big data to streamline South Korea’s drug evaluation processes

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea is modernising its drug review and evaluation processes by incorporating AI, big data, and other emerging technologies.

The efforts are being spearheaded by the ministry’s National Institute for Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS).

Starting next year, NIFDS plans to apply AI to assist with routine tasks such as preparing review data.

The initial focus will be synthetic chemical drugs, gradually expanding to other product categories.

‘Initial AI applications will focus on streamlining repetitive tasks,’ said Jeong Ji-won, head of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Research Department at NIFDS.

‘The AI system is being developed internally, and we are evaluating its potential for real-world inspection scenarios. A phased approach is necessary due to the large volume of data required,’ Jeong added.

In parallel, NIFDS is exploring using big data in various regulatory activities.

One initiative involves applying big data analytics to enhance risk assessments during overseas GMP inspections. ‘Standardisation remains a challenge due to varying formats across facilities,’ said Sohn Kyung-hoon, head of the Drug Research Division.

‘Nonetheless, we’re working to develop a system that enhances the efficiency of inspections without relying on foreign collaborations.’ Efforts also include building domain-specific Korean-English translation models for safety documentation.

The institute also integrates AI into pharmaceutical manufacturing oversight and develops public data utilisation frameworks. The efforts include systems for analysing adverse drug reaction reports and standardising data inputs.

NIFDS is actively researching new analysis methods and safety protocols regarding impurity control.

‘We’re prioritising research on impurities such as NDMA,’ Sohn noted. Simultaneous detection methods are being tailored for smaller manufacturers.

New categorisation techniques are also being developed to monitor previously untracked substances.

On the biologics front, NIFDS aims to finalise its mRNA vaccine evaluation technology by year-end.

The five-year project supports the national strategy for improving infectious disease preparedness in South Korea, including work on delivery mechanisms and material composition.

‘This initiative is part of our broader strategy to improve preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks,’ said Lee Chul-hyun, head of the Biologics Research Division.

Evaluation protocols for antibody drugs are still in progress. However, indirect support is being provided through guidelines and benchmarking against international cases. Separately, the Herbal Medicine Research Division is upgrading its standardised product distribution model.

The current use-based system will shift to a field-based one next year, extending to pharmaceuticals, functional foods, and cosmetics sectors.

‘We’re refining the system to improve access and quality control,’ said Hwang Jin-hee, head of the division. Collaboration with regional research institutions remains a key component of this work.’

NIFDS currently offers 396 standardised herbal medicines. The institute continues to develop new reference materials annually as part of its evolving strategy.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

LG’s Exaone Path 2.0 uses AI to transform genetic testing

LG AI Research has introduced Exaone Path 2.0, an upgraded AI model designed to analyse pathology images for disease diagnosis, significantly reducing the time required for genetic testing.

The new model, unveiled Wednesday, can reportedly process pathology images in under a minute—a significant shift from conventional genetic testing methods that often take more than two weeks.

According to LG, the AI system offers enhanced accuracy in detecting genetic mutations and gene expression patterns by learning from detailed image patches and full-slide pathology data.

Developed by LG AI Research, a division of the LG Group, Exaone Path 2.0 is trained on over 10,000 whole-slide images (WSIs) and multiomics pairs, enabling it to integrate structural information with molecular biology insights. The company said it has achieved a 78.4 percent accuracy rate in predicting genetic mutations.

The model has also been tailored for specific applications in oncology, including lung and colorectal cancers, where it can help clinicians identify patient groups most likely to benefit from targeted therapies.

LG AI Research is collaborating with Professor Hwang Tae-hyun and his team at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in the US to further its application in real-world clinical settings.

Their shared goal is to develop a multimodal medical AI platform that can support precision medicine directly within clinical environments.

Hwang, a key contributor to the US government’s Cancer Moonshot program and founder of the Molecular AI Initiative at Vanderbilt, emphasised that the aim is to create AI tools usable by clinicians in active medical practice, rather than limiting innovation to the lab.

In addition to oncology, LG AI Research plans to extend its multimodal AI initiatives into transplant rejection, immunology, and diabetes.

It is also collaborating with the Jackson Laboratory to support Alzheimer’s research and working with Professor Baek Min-kyung’s team at Seoul National University on next-generation protein structure prediction.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!