陈一丹博士在炉边谈话环节中的致辞
尊敬的何德华（Ho Teck Hua）校长、翁之昊（Luke Ong）院长、刘文佳（Liu Woon Chia）院长
各位老师同学，各位来宾：
大家好！
非常高兴第一次来到南洋理工大学（NTU），漫步其中，处处是风景。NTU有全球最美校园之一的美誉，百闻不如一见，果真名不虚传。
校园氛围很有南洋味道，我倍感亲切。何谓南洋？这个词对于很多人来说，也许都有点陌生了。但“南洋”承载着中国与东南亚地区在过去漫长历史长河中深厚的历史渊源、丰富的贸易往来和人文情感等记忆。我祖籍来自潮汕，对我个人而言，南洋不仅仅是历史地理概念，更是从小耳濡目染的生活故事。先辈们踏船漂洋过海，我的祖父便是其中之一，背井离乡下南洋到泰国谋生养家，余生与家人分隔重洋，实可叹也。
回望历史，从闽粤之滨到东南亚诸岛，浪潮涛涛，奔腾不息，一代代华人远渡重洋，和多元族群共融共生，创造出繁荣与兴盛之地，这是壮阔的人类文明史的一部分。展望未来，在此东西方交汇之处，多元文化和创新技术让我们看到未来更多可能。
人工智能是当前正在发生的最重要的结构性变化，是面向未来最大的变量之一。我们看到人工智能技术正在从信息领域跃迁到物质层面，完成从比特到原子的范式转化，并在助力传统产业升级、新兴产业崛起、科学前沿探索之中起到越来越关键性作用。
例如，AI自动化了许多创意生成任务，使研究人员可以专注于评估AI提出的候选材料，研究员由此能够发现更多具有独特化学结构的新材料, AI辅助助力更具突破性的发明，促进产品创新，已不是一种可能而是越来越普及的现实。
目前，人工智能技术仍在快速演进、不断生成变化之中，全球教育系统正处于十字路口，无论是发达国家凭借先进技术资源在 AI 教育应用上的先行探索，还是发展中国家奋起直追、努力挖掘 AI 助力教育发展的潜力；无论是传统教育学科在 AI 冲击下的自我革新，还是跨学科融合所开辟的全新路径；亦或是不同文化背景下，人们对 AI 融入教育的不同认知与接纳程度，都需要纳入我们的视野范围之内。
站在这一历史节点上展望未来，我们依然很难准确预测在未来二十年甚至更短时间内，人工智能带来如何颠覆性的突破，或者发展出某种类似自主意识的东西，或在某些复杂情况下做出违背人类初衷的行为。我们所确信的是，AI 会在未来的时间里，持续不断地重塑教育的形态、内容和方式，最有可能重塑自二次工业革命以来至今的教育模式。
我们看到新加坡政府近期已经明确将AI教育融入课程，从2025年开始，将向所有中小学提供五到十小时的人工智能课程模块。这值得赞赏和学习。现在的孩子已是AI原住民，让学生从小接触和了解AI技术，提高他们的数字技能和批判性思维能力。这不仅有助于学生在未来职场中保持竞争力，有助于推动他们在科技领域探索新的可能性，更有助于增强他们的社会责任感，共同应对复杂的挑战。
技术带来新的机会，我们知道有些“不知道”，更难的部分，在于我们不知道的不知道，这种不确定让我们心生敬畏。我们主张开放，跨越地域、学科、文化等诸多界限，去全面考量人工智能在教育领域所带来的方方面面的影响；我们主张实践，从历史的长河中去探寻技术与教育交互发展的脉络，进而展望未来它们可能走向的深远方向。
我们的选择，我们的行动，将塑造我们的未来。我们为合作而来，为未来而来。在人工智能与教育的交汇处，各方力量汇聚于此。我们希望和NTU等顶尖高校、研究机构建立和深化合作关系，把握人工智能浪潮所带来的历史性机遇，确保负责任地部署人工智能，将其积极融入全球教育系统，从而为所有人带来更好的结果。
AI教育的未来需要政府、企业、教育机构及社区等多方共同努力和协作。近年来，中国与新加坡两国教育交流合作日益密切，NTU富有远见，在中国多地展开立体和富有成效的项目，我注意到，何德华校长提出了一个名为“新加坡-中国知识枢纽”的理念，旨在推进从高等教育、人才培养、产学研结合等领域加强联系与合作，我为之击节赞赏，陈一丹基金会怀着共同的目标和愿景，希望以更宽广的视野和更长期的视角，促成跨学科、跨文化，跨区域，跨群体的共力协作。
深圳同样是年轻的城市，所在的粤港澳大湾区，是有聚集效应的城市群，充满创新与活力，我想不论是陈一丹基金会和南洋理工大学之间，还是新加坡与深圳之间，我们希望以教育、AI等为关键母题，在实践中探索，扩展协作网络，展开共同的想象，一同拥抱未来。
在座的南洋理工师生都是青年才俊、学界翘楚，是未来世界的领导者们，你们所创造的世界将具有无限潜能，我们在深圳，在大湾区也欢迎大家到访。
谢谢大家。
Distinguished President Ho, Dean Ong, Dean Liu,
Dear faculty members, students, and guests,
Good day, everyone!
I am truly delighted to visit Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for the first time. Strolling around the campus, it is clear why NTU is celebrated as one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. The reputation is well-deserved; seeing it in person surpasses all expectations.
The campus exudes a strong sense of the "Nanyang" spirit, which feels incredibly close to my heart. What is "Nanyang"? For many, this term may sound unfamiliar, but it carries profound memories of deep historical connections, vibrant trade exchanges, and shared human experiences between China and Southeast Asia over centuries. My ancestral roots trace back to Chaoshan, and for me, "Nanyang" is not merely a historical or geographical term but also a collection of life stories I grew up hearing. My grandfather was among those who boarded ships to cross the seas, leaving his homeland to seek opportunities in Southeast Asia. He settled in Thailand to support his family, spending the rest of his life separated from loved ones by the oceans. This is truly lamentable.
Looking back at history, from the shores of Fujian and Guangdong to the islands of Southeast Asia, waves of migration brought generations of Chinese to foreign lands. They integrated with diverse communities, creating prosperity and progress. This is a magnificent chapter in the history of human civilization. Looking ahead, this region—where East meets West—offers boundless opportunities through its rich diversity of cultures and innovative technologies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) stands as one of the most transformative forces shaping our future. It is rapidly becoming one of the greatest variables influencing the world as we know it. We are witnessing AI’s leap from the digital realm into the physical world, transitioning from bits to atoms. AI is playing an increasingly critical role in upgrading traditional industries, driving the rise of emerging fields, and enabling breakthroughs in scientific research.
For instance, AI is automating creative tasks, allowing researchers to focus on evaluating AI-generated ideas. This has led to the discovery of novel materials with unique chemical properties. These AI-enabled breakthroughs have moved beyond mere possibilities to become everyday realities, fostering innovation in products and processes.
As of today, AI technology continues to evolve at an incredible pace, generating constant change. The global education system stands at a crossroads. Developed countries are leveraging their technological advantages to explore AI’s applications in education, while developing nations are striving to catch up, uncovering AI’s potential to advance education. Traditional academic disciplines are being re-defined under AI’s impact, while interdisciplinary approaches are forging entirely new paths. Across distinct cultural contexts, people’s perceptions and acceptance of AI in education vary greatly, and these differences must be part of our broader discussion.
As we stand at this historical juncture, it remains difficult to predict how AI will revolutionize our world in the next 20 years—or even sooner. Will it develop forms of autonomy akin to self-awareness, or act in ways that defy human intentions in complex situations? What we do know is that AI will continue to reshape the structure, content, and methods of education. It is likely to bring about the most profound changes to education systems since the Second Industrial Revolution.
We have seen Singapore take proactive steps in this direction, recently announcing the integration of AI education into school curricula. Beginning in 2025, all primary and secondary school students will receive 5 to 10 hours of AI education modules. This is a commendable initiative worth learning from. Today’s children are already "AI natives." By introducing them to AI technologies from a young age, we can enhance their digital skills and critical thinking abilities. This not only helps them stay competitive in the job market of the future but also inspires them to explore new possibilities in the tech field. Most importantly, it nurtures their sense of social responsibility, empowering them to tackle complex global challenges together.
Technology brings new opportunities, but it also reminds us of what we don’t know—and, more importantly, of what we don’t know that we don’t know. This uncertainty inspires a sense of humility and caution. We advocate for openness: crossing boundaries of geography, disciplines, and cultures to comprehensively consider AI’s multifaceted impact on education. And we advocate for action: learning from history to understand the interplay between technology and education, and envisioning the profound directions they may take in the future.
Our choices and actions today will shape the future. We are here to collaborate and to build a better tomorrow. At the intersection of AI and education, diverse forces are coming together. We hope to strengthen and deepen partnerships with leading institutions like NTU, seizing the historic opportunities brought about by the AI revolution. Our goal is to ensure the responsible deployment of AI, integrating it positively into global education systems to deliver better outcomes for all.
The future of AI in education requires collaboration among governments, businesses, educational institutions, and communities. In recent years, educational exchanges between China and Singapore have grown increasingly close. NTU has shown remarkable foresight, launching impactful projects in various parts of China. I was particularly impressed by President Ho’s vision of a "Singapore-China Knowledge Hub," which aims to enhance cooperation in higher education, talent development, and industry-academia integration. This is a visionary initiative worthy of praise. Sharing this common vision, the Chen Yidan Foundation hopes to foster interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and cross-border collaboration with a broad and long-term perspective.
Shenzhen, too, is a young city full of innovation and vitality, situated within the Greater Bay Area—a region with a powerful agglomeration effect. Whether it’s between the Chen Yidan Foundation and NTU, or between Singapore and Shenzhen, we aspire to make education and AI the central themes of our collaboration. Through practice, we aim to expand our networks and reimagine possibilities for the future together.
To the faculty and students of NTU, you are the bright minds and leaders of tomorrow. The world you will create holds infinite potential, and we warmly welcome you to visit us in Shenzhen and the Greater Bay Area.
Thank you all!
