Kuala lumpur: Higher education institutions need to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) across all fields of study, including the humanities, to ensure their curricula remain relevant to technological developments, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. He emphasized that AI has become an integral part of the learning process and should be incorporated into teaching methods and curricula.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zambry stated, "AI is no longer just a tool but has become part of the entire process. That is why we use the term 'embed', meaning it should be incorporated into all learning methods, curricula and so on," during a press briefing after officiating the NVIDIA DGX Spark-powered AI Supercomputing Lab at Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU). He advocated for the application of AI beyond technical fields, highlighting its potential in areas such as international relations and management.
Zambry expressed admiration for how APU has integrated AI technology into humanities studies, noting its application in courses like International Relations. He praised APU's development and achievements, particularly its commitment to incorporating technology across various disciplines and its ability to attract students from 120 countries.
He further stressed that the rapid pace of technological advancement necessitates a reassessment of teaching approaches and curricula in higher education institutions to better prepare students for workplace changes. However, he cautioned that AI should be used responsibly, ensuring it does not compromise students' critical thinking, writing, and idea development skills.
Meanwhile, APU chief executive officer Datuk Parmjit Singh highlighted that the establishment of the AI Supercomputing Lab aligns with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's vision for Malaysia to enhance its AI capabilities. Singh emphasized the importance of AI literacy, stating, "By putting AI supercomputing power directly into the hands of our students, we are focused on four key goals: widening access, building Malaysian AI talent, strengthening sovereign AI capability and enabling our students to move from simply using AI to creators of AI with purpose."