The wisdom for AI-era education lies in the Analects

Kim Yong-seok

The author is a endowed professor for College of Semiconductor, Gachon University.

The debut of ChatGPT in late 2022 marked a turning point that transformed many aspects of daily life. In the past, people searched for information by entering keywords into Google or Naver. Today, they are more likely to say, “Just ask ChatGPT.” AI understands the context of questions, summarizes information and even suggests related topics to consider.

The rise of generative AI is also reshaping the job market. As the technology takes over many routine tasks once handled by entry-level employees, more companies are reducing or freezing hiring for new graduates. Finding a first job has become increasingly difficult.

In this new environment, it is worth revisiting the opening passage of the Analects (compiled during the Warring States period), the classic text preserving the teachings of Confucius from more than 2,500 years ago: “To learn and practice what is learned at due times, is that not a pleasure?” The phrase, “hak-i-si-seup-ji bul-yeok-yeol-ho,” offers enduring wisdom for navigating the AI era.

For generations, this sentence formed the foundation of traditional education. Schools concentrated primarily on “hak,” or acquiring knowledge. Students were expected to master what teachers taught and demonstrate that knowledge through exams. Success depended on memorizing more information than others. The amount of knowledge a person possessed largely determined their competitiveness.

That model no longer fits an age in which AI can acquire, organize and deliver knowledge far more efficiently than humans can. As a result, education must undergo a fundamental transformation.

This does not mean students should avoid AI. On the contrary, they should use it as extensively as possible while resisting the temptation to become dependent on it. Among the enormous volume of information that AI provides, people must still determine what is accurate, what is misleading and what truly matters. Critical thinking and reflection have become the defining qualities of talent. Creative problem-solving, collaboration and communication are growing even more valuable.

What direction, then, should education take in the AI era?

The answer lies in “si-eup,” practicing what has been learned repeatedly over time. Rather than stopping at acquiring knowledge, students should apply it and build new knowledge upon the wisdom accumulated by earlier generations. At this stage, action matters more than theory. Growth comes from experience, including mistakes and failures. That is why project-based learning, teamwork and discussion are essential for developing sound judgment.

One example comes from my semiconductor engineering classes.

Students are first assigned to use AI to research each semiconductor design term, producing roughly three pages of material for every topic. This represents the learning stage and allows AI to help them gather knowledge quickly and efficiently.

Students are then required to reduce those three pages to a single-page summary written in their own words. Instead of accepting AI-generated information at face value, they must evaluate and reinterpret it. This is the process of si-eup — internalizing knowledge through repeated reflection.

Finally, students present their summaries before classmates, reinforcing what they have learned through explanation and discussion.

Another example involves department-affiliated student clubs devoted to the Internet of Things (IoT), semiconductor design and robotics.

AI can produce coding instructions or explain circuit design theories within seconds. What it cannot replace is the process of identifying a real-world challenge, working with teammates and building a functioning robot or IoT device from the ground up.

Students must solve countless technical problems encountered during design and programming while resolving disagreements within their teams. By participating in competitions and having their work evaluated externally, they gain practical experience that directly prepares them for industry. This is the true meaning of si-eup.

Even so, students cannot neglect individual study.

AI may compensate for gaps in knowledge, but without a solid foundation, students cannot ask meaningful questions or judge the quality of AI-generated answers. Strong fundamentals remain indispensable.

Schools and teachers should therefore shift their focus. Instead of simply transmitting knowledge, they should guide students toward transforming what they learn into practical experience through repeated application. AI should become a tool that supports this process, not a substitute for human judgment or intellectual growth.

Confucius once taught, “To learn and practice what is learned at due times, is that not a pleasure?” The “pleasure” he described goes beyond the satisfaction of possessing knowledge. It is the deeper joy of understanding what one has learned, applying it meaningfully and discovering that one has become a better person than the day before.