Choi Tae-won to Youth in the 'AI Era': 'If I Could Go Back to My 20s?'... Audience Burst Out Laughing

SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won appeared as a lecturer on EBS's "Great Lecture" from the 12th to the 16th. The theme was "AI (Artificial Intelligence), New Capitalism, and Youth." Over five days, he expounded his own views on topics including △the utilization of AI, △AI education, and △the value of labor in the age of AI.

First, Choi (Chairman) mentioned that a task for becoming an "AI-native society" is that "we all must try to create AI and act proactively." He called for finding practical solutions by utilizing data held by individuals, organizations, cities, and nations, going beyond the performance competition of AI models.

Choi (Chairman) stated, "The AI industry has a 'full-stack' structure that extends from energy to semiconductors, infrastructure, foundation models, and applications," adding, "Among these, the most important is applications." He emphasized, "If we have one AI agent per citizen, they can gather our country's data and identify what problems exist."

He said, "Even in organizations or clubs of 500 or 1,000 people, you can experiment with how to utilize AI, how to input information, and what to do," adding, "A young child who keeps trying out AI and continuously follows its development will be at the forefront."

Regarding education in the AI era, he predicted, "This may be shocking to say, but a university diploma will no longer be strictly necessary in the future." He noted that how one utilizes AI has become more important than simply graduating from college.

Choi (Chairman) explained, "This is not to say we should stop studying. Being good at studying is important, but it cannot be said that success comes from that alone," adding, "Society and companies will likely give more jobs to people who are better at problem-solving, asking questions, thinking, empathizing, and adapting."

He argued, "In the AI era, a system that produces people in a single format cannot work. The old industrial-era convention of saying a top student with good grades is an excellent student is outdated. Schools in the AI era must change from places of learning to places of experimentation. It is important to try making anything with AI when opportunities arise."

Regarding the value of labor in the AI era, he diagnosed, "Until now, a job and labor meant working at one company, in one occupation, in one department, for set hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m." He added, "But now, if you utilize AI, you can match productivity in 1 or 2 hours, so there is no reason to be at the company for about 6 hours."

Choi (Chairman) stated, "Whether to put in more effort and take on more jobs to earn more money is an individual's choice," adding, "Until now, work was done through regular or contract employment, but now one must design one's own work. In the future, instead of being employed by someone else, the freedom to choose a company will become an option."

Choi (Chairman) devoted a significant portion of his lecture to advice for young people. He cited four competencies that the younger generation should cultivate in the AI era: △the power of thinking, △empathy, △muscles of adaptation, and △body skills. He also called for the ability to challenge again after failure.

He said, "We must build our thinking muscles," adding, "Learning what others teach is no longer useful. There is a need to define problems myself and solve them in my own way." He further noted, "People who think they can build all safety devices so as not to fail are likely to fall behind when measured against the speed at which AI evolves," concluding, "We need resilience to adapt after failing and the ability to get up easily and challenge again."

Choi (Chairman) revealed that he himself directly creates AI agents and uses them in his work. He introduced, "I do not just create one AI agent; I create various agents and use them for work. It organizes everything from schedules to incoming reports," adding, "I am telling all employees to each create an AI agent."

In addition to AI, he once again emphasized his usual views on social value and Korea-Japan economic cooperation through the TV lecture. Mentioning that "incentives" are needed to solve social problems, he analyzed, "If people can live comfortably by making solving social problems their profession, it can become a basic method for problem-solving." He also said, "I am aiming for solidarity that develops into an economic community, not just a level of cooperation with Japan."

Finally, in response to a question about what he would do if he could go back to his 20s, he answered, "I would unconditionally start a business. If there is a problem I consider the most difficult for South Korea or humanity, I would spare no means or methods to solve it." He then smiled and said, "Saying that is too grandiose, and there is a high probability that I would have been playing more. That would be the more accurate statement."