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AI-driven classroom of the future must prioritize human element, Nordic experts say

Published: 23 Apr. 2026, 17:42 Updated: 24 Apr. 2026, 16:02

SEO JI-EUN
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Prof. Barbara Wasson of the University of Bergen, left, and Prof. Kim Normann Andersen of Copenhagen Business School discuss the Nordic vision for human-centric AI during a joint interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at Switch22 in Yeouido, western Seoul, on April 23. [SEO JI-EUN]

[INTERVIEW]

The classroom of the future is at risk of spinning into a "wheel of death" where AI-generated assignments are answered by AI and graded by AI, leaving the human element entirely behind, warned two of the Nordic region’s leading AI experts.

In an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily on Thursday in Seoul, Prof. Kim Normann Andersen, an expert in IT governance and digitalization from Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, and Prof. Barbara Wasson, a specialist in learning sciences and AI in education at the University of Bergen in Norway and co-director of the new national AI Centre for the Empowerment of Human Learning, warned that Korea’s rapid digital transformation must prioritize domain knowledge and the struggle of learning over mere technical convenience.

As the second Nordic+Korea Innovation Days kicked off in Seoul, hosted by the embassies of Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, the scholars shared their vision of a third way for AI — one rooted in social trust and cultural heritage rather than just market dominance or state control.

The following are excerpts from the interview, edited for length and clarity.

A student at Namsan Elementary School in Chuncheon, Gangwon, solves math division problems using an AI Digital Textbook during an open class showcasing the newly rolled-out digital curriculum on May 7, 2025. [YONHAP]

Q. How is the rise of generative AI impacting the fundamental trust between students and teachers?

A. Wasson: We are seeing new constellations of mistrust. It is not just about students cheating; students also don’t trust the faculty, suspecting they use AI to generate lectures or mark exams. There is a picture called the "wheel of death," where the teacher generates coursework with AI, the student answers with AI, the teacher then marks it with AI and the student asks for an AI-generated explanation. Where is the human in the loop anymore? This leads to what we call "cognitive off-loading" or even "never-skilling," where people never actually learn the skills because they let AI do everything. We have to help students understand that learning is hard and that they must go through the struggle to actually learn.

Korea has been a pioneer in digital infrastructure, including the AI textbook initiative that was recently scaled back. How do you view this approach?

Wasson: We were quite interested to follow what was going on here. In Norway, we see a movement back to physical textbooks for younger children because research shows they are better for memory and focus.
While AI can tailor a book to a child, there is a risk of cultural flattening. If every story is personalized so that you become the main character, you miss out on shared cultural touchstones like Pippi Longstocking or the Moomins. You lose the common cultural understanding that binds a society together.

Andersen: There is also the speed of the brain to consider. Even at places like Harvard Business School, they still intently use blackboards. Research suggests that the time it takes a teacher to write on a board allows for a cycle of reflection in students' minds. That reflection doesn’t happen at the speed of AI-generated text.

How would you compare Korea’s AI landscape with the "Nordic Model"?

Andersen: The Nordic model is built on accountability and social trust. In Denmark, we’ve used IT infrastructure since the 1960s to build trust between the state and citizens. Our model is more focused on protecting consumers and democratic values, often requiring a risk analysis before a technology is even developed.
Korea, on the other hand, is a hardware production powerhouse. The backbone of AI in many countries is delivered by Korean companies; the semiconductor industry here is huge. In terms of policy, the legislation here seems more company-friendly with fewer checkpoints.

Wasson: I was impressed by the mentality here at both universities and companies to give back to society by applying technology to welfare areas. However, Scandinavia’s regulations remain stricter to ensure that technology is responsible and reasonable for the particular job.

A robot sitting in an office, working alone [GETTY IMAGES]

Many fear being replaced by automation. How should business leaders and the work force prepare?

Andersen: I train my business graduates to understand that AI will be an increasing part of most jobs. We use the concept of dynamic capabilities — the constant need to learn. In the Nordics, we have a unique system of allocating resources for on-the-job training, partly due to our labor unions. It’s a nice feature where retraining isn't just something you pay for yourself.
For leaders, the strategy should follow three steps: Briefing (trends), Adopting (capabilities) and Exploiting (impact). But we also need more entrepreneurship. If you build a business model around technology from the start — like Skype or Spotify — you have a totally different level of scalability.

Wasson: AI should handle the grunge work — the repetitive, tedious tasks. In law, for instance, AI can pull case examples, but it cannot replace critical thinking. Our law faculty at Bergen actually bans AI for the first two years of study. Students must first learn how to think like a lawyer and build domain knowledge before they are allowed to use AI as a collaborator. If you don't have that foundation, you can't even spot when the AI is hallucinating.

Nordic Ambassadors to Korea — from left, Swedish Ambassador Karl-Olof Andersson, Norwegian Ambassador Anne Kari Hansen Ovind, Finnish Ambassador Jyri Järviaho and Danish Ambassador Mikael Hemniti Winther — raise a toast during a networking reception celebrating the Nordic+Korea Innovation Days 2026 and the visit of the Nordic AI delegation held at the Finnish Residence in Seongbuk District, northern Seoul, on April 21. [SEO JI-EUN]

What is the most immediate area where Korea and the Nordic countries can collaborate?

Wasson: We both share concerns about relying on big commercialized models from the United States and China. We are interested in developing localized language models. We don't want a high-tech company abroad deciding what will be taught in our schools or what constitutes knowledge. We also share concerns about who owns the data — questions as relevant to smart cars as they are to education.

Andersen: We should collaborate on the future of government. We need to look ahead to 2050 and ask: What is it that we actually want for our society? Governments should be more concerned about steering technology toward a beautiful future rather than just current adoption. Finally, student mobility is key. Students are the future leaders; if they move between our universities, it’s a low-cost transformation with high impact.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]