KAIST pushes to introduce AI-free classes starting next year

KAIST President Bae Choongsik announced that starting next spring semester, the university will begin “AIfree” education in some classes, where artificial intelligence (AI) will not be used. In an interview at KAIST’s main campus in Daejeon, he explained that in the AI era, students need to develop the ability to think and speak for themselves, and that lecture spaces where internet and smart devices are restricted are also necessary. KAIST is also pushing ahead with an “AI Native Campus” strategy that applies AI across education, research, administration, and infrastructure. In classes, the curriculum will be redesigned not only to include the stage of using AI, but also the stage of building basic thinking skills without AI. In research, the university plans to expand AI autonomous labs. The administration will also introduce AI agents to reduce repetitive tasks. President Bae said that the system allowing people to earn a doctoral degree without a dissertation has also entered the institutionalization stage. However, he emphasized that it should not be a way to substitute a degree with startup experience alone, but must be based on meaningful achievements and strict review. He also said KAIST is considering strengthening startup education and offering startup camps for incoming students. In addition, President Bae mentioned small modular reactors (SMR), advanced bio, and quantum as KAIST’s major research areas, saying that SMRs in particular are important in terms of energy challenges, carbon neutrality, and export industries. He also cited manufacturing as the core field of physical AI rather than robotics, adding that applying AI suited to Korea’s industrial structure could improve productivity and competitiveness.