Educators and industry leaders gathered at the third NUS Lifelong Learning Festival on 28 September 2026 to discuss the evolving role of human judgment, physical AI, and continuous learning in the age of artificial intelligence.
The Importance of Learning to Learn
NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye stated at the festival that lifelong learning is increasingly important as artificial intelligence becomes more capable. He emphasized that learning involves asking questions, making detours, and overcoming struggles rather than simply obtaining answers from AI.
Prof Tan noted that as AI reshapes jobs, people must embrace its capabilities while retaining the ability to understand, critique, and apply good human judgment.
Raising the Ceiling and Physical AI
Professor Tulika Mitra, NUS Vice Provost for Special Projects and Dean of the School of Computing, noted that AI has raised the floor for knowledge and coding, requiring individuals to raise their expectations and focus on formulating the right questions rather than just accelerating yesterday's work.
Professor Jochen Wirtz, Vice Dean of MBA Programmes at NUS Business School, highlighted how the convergence of large language models, large behavioural models, and agentic AI could transform service robots and physical AI applications to alleviate labor shortages.
Accountability and Workforce Transformation
Professor Simon Chesterman, NUS Vice Provost for Educational Innovation, compared generative AI to a smart intern requiring supervision, stressing that human accountability remains essential when delegating tasks to autonomous systems.
Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development, highlighted the need for higher learning institutions to partner with companies to align skill development with enterprise transformation. During the event, NUS also recognized four organisations through the inaugural NUS Lifelong Learning Industry Partner Award.
Key facts and where they come from
- The third NUS Lifelong Learning Festival took place on 28 September 2026.
Prof Tan was speaking at the third NUS Lifelong Learning Festival on 28 September 2026.
- Professor Tan Eng Chye emphasized the concept of learning to learn in the age of AI.
It is about learning to learn. It is about the struggle of learning, asking questions, making detours
- NUS recognized four organisations through the inaugural NUS Lifelong Learning Industry Partner Award.
At this year’s Festival, NUS recognised four organisations through the inaugural NUS Lifelong Learning Industry Partner Award
