Asia’s humanities under pressure from AI surge (DigWatch)

Universities across Asia, notably in China, are slashing liberal arts enrollments to expand STEM and AI programmes. Institutions like Fudan and Tsinghua are reducing intake for humanities subjects, as policymakers push for a high-tech workforce. Despite this shift, educators argue that sidelining subjects like history, philosophy, and ethics threatens the cultivation of critical thinking, moral insight, and cultural literacy, which are increasingly necessary in an AI-saturated world. They contend that humanistic reasoning remains essential for navigating AI’s societal and ethical complexities.

Asia’s humanities under pressure from AI surge | Digital Watch Observatory