Prof Hahn Jungpil recently returned from Melbourne after participating in the International AI Cooperation and Governance Forum (IAICGF) and delivering a research talk at the University of Melbourne’s School of Computing and Information Systems. The trip offered a valuable lens into how different ecosystems approach AI innovation, governance, and institutional change.
At IAICGF, Prof Hahn joined a panel on “The University Disrupted: AI’s Impact on Knowledge Work & Tertiary Education.” The discussion spotlighted a pressing question: as AI reshapes professional pathways and reduces entry-level knowledge work, how should universities rethink their purpose? Prof Hahn emphasized that higher education must evolve beyond employability as its core value proposition. In an era of volatile job roles and accelerating automation, universities should prioritize capability formation—judgment, systems thinking, responsible AI fluency, and purpose development. Employability should emerge as a by-product of these deeper competencies rather than the anchor of the university mission.
During the visit, Prof Hahn also presented new joint work with Junjie Zhou on “The Structural Pitfalls of Processing AI-generated Information.” The study explores an emerging AI performance paradox: how organizational structures intended to reduce decision errors can inadvertently amplify failures when interacting with human biases toward or against algorithms. Simulation results show that hierarchical, polyarchical, and hybrid validation structures not only filter errors differently but also shape long-term attitudes toward AI within organizations.
Engagements with faculty, doctoral students, and visiting academics—including Professor Xavier Castañer—sparked wide-ranging discussions on organizational design, strategy, and academic relevance in the age of AI. The trip underscored how a change in environment can expand perspectives and catalyze new research directions.
Prof Hahn returns to Singapore with fresh insights and ideas that will inform upcoming work on AI governance, organizational design, and the future of higher education.