'Emotional education' to counter AI-driven job uncertainty

Chinese-style emotions

Wu, the principal, believes Chinese people possess unique qualities, such as humility, subtlety, diligence, and perseverance, which extend to a thirst for knowledge and a love for all aspects of life. She said it is important to highlight these qualities when implementing emotional education.

The country's rich culinary traditions are an embodiment of Chinese people's diligence in her eyes, so the school encourages students interested in cooking to experience this firsthand by preparing dishes.

When a group visits the school, the students are now capable of working together to organize and prepare a meal of typical Shanghai dishes for the guests.

Once a child is able to cook, he or she is willing to prepare food for the family, which improves the atmosphere at home, said Wu.

"Whenever a child's strengths are recognized and encouraged, they gain confidence and stand tall," said Wu, who believes that teachers should identify the potential in each child to help them succeed, which she believes is the essence of education: focusing on the growth of each individual.

Zhao Zizi, a senior middle school teacher in Shanghai for three decades, said even though AI has become powerful, it is not a "person" a child can aspire to emulate.

"AI is just a tool to help us get closer to people who we admire and are worth learning from," she said.

Experts have pointed out that embracing AI, which will systematically enhance learning and work efficiency, is an irreversible trend.

The next generation will create AI, rather than just consume AI, and they will expand what's possible for the good of society and humanity, said Michael Levitt, 2013 Nobel laureate in chemistry, during the World Laureates Forum 2025 held in Shanghai in October.

Many primary and middle schools have been encouraging young people to use AI to solve social problems they encounter. For instance, a group of primary school students in Shanghai's Huangpu district attempted to use large language models to create movie descriptions for the visually impaired.

Through this process, the children not only mastered a technological skill, but also understood that technology should always serve human welfare, said teachers involved in the project.

zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn