Chuck Yoo, executive vice president of research at Korea University, spoke to Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority’s GAIN podcast RIYADH: Routine jobs are “very much in danger” thanks to the rise of artificial intelligence, a leading academic from Korea University has warned. Speaking to the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority’s GAIN podcast, Chuck Yoo – executive vice president of research at the Seoul-based institution – did offer an optimistic note, stating that new jobs will be created by the technology. “For young people, I strongly encourage that they take an active role to learn the new technology and be used to how to use it. I think that’s the way that you can deal with such a profound change in our human history,” he told the GAIN Podcast. Yoo further explained that the rise of AI is similar to the 18th century industrial revolution, where change opened up new opportunities. Jobs that are based on routine work or gathering and analyzing data are the most in danger, said Yoo, giving the example of a paralegal. AI in classes As a professor, Yoo advises teachers and students to utilize the technology in classes instead of banning it, because the revolution is irreversible. “You now have a very strong assistant, why do you want to go back to the old days?” Yoo remarked. “To do that, professors who teach classes also have to know what GPT is and how to use it, and they should give assignments that have to be addressed with ChatGPT, not banning ChatGPT,” he added. He added that the Korea University is also researching to build a new curriculum and a new way of teaching which incorporates AI and technologies like ChatGPT. Yoo believes that AI is very rewarding and that the world is living in a fruitful age thanks to the technology. Yoo emphasized the importance of findable sustainable solutions as the rise of the technology calls for more data centers, which extract a heavy power toll. AI and energy Yoo further added that Saudi Arabia’s push toward becoming an AI hub might call for more power plants amid higher energy consumption. “It is being realized as a serious problem,” he said, adding: “People are working on how to reduce the power consumption in parallel with constructing more power plants.” He added that the US has already announced their plan to build several nuclear facilities in anticipation of “exponential growth” of power consumption. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority introduced the GAIN Podcast as it aims to elevate global understanding of data and AI and their effects on society. The 14-episode series features insights from leading scientists, AI experts, decision-makers, and CEOs of prominent tech companies, discussing various aspects of technological advancements, industry milestones, and strategies for fostering human talent in the field.