KAIST will completely redesign all undergraduate and graduate courses for the age of artificial intelligence (AI) starting in March next year. Rather than phasing it in for first-year students, the plan is to set the level of AI use for every course taken by undergraduates in years 1–4 and graduate students and to change the teaching methods accordingly.
President Bae Choong-sik, who took office on the 10th, said at a press briefing held in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 24th, "All lectures must basically be changed to fit the AI era," and "Everyone will start in March next year." The school plans to reorganize all courses during this semester and apply the changes to undergraduates and graduate students simultaneously from March next year.
When asked to name the one thing he most wants to change during his term, President Bae also cited "AI-ifying all courses." He said, "Within a few months, all 750 KAIST professors will become concurrent faculty of the AI college," adding, "No one will be left not doing AI."
KAIST will reorganize all courses into three areas based on the level of AI use. In fields such as the humanities and social sciences and basic science, it will strengthen "AI-free" education in which students read, write, and think on their own without AI assistance. In most classes, such as engineering and applied science, students will use AI to solve problems and compare and verify results. Courses that design and develop AI itself will be classified as an area where students lead AI.
President Bae added, "The more we are in the AI era, the more, without the basic ability to ask questions and make judgments, people will be dragged along by AI," and "In humanities, social sciences, and basic science classes, we will move away from the existing practice of students having AI do their assignments and have them read, write, and discuss directly with professors."
However, AI will not be completely excluded. After students build foundational skills, classes will also incorporate using AI to create outputs and compare them. Specific operations for each course will be decided by the AI education, research, and administration innovation committee to be formed this year.
The school will also move away from a focus on traditional lectures, assignments, and midterms and finals, expanding discussions, presentations, and project-based classes. President Bae emphasized, "If the method is the professor lectures what they know and students listen, students will abandon lectures," adding, "Change in university education is inevitable."
Admissions changes will be pursued in step with the curriculum overhaul. President Bae said, "If we evaluate the competencies needed in the AI era in admissions, changes will appear in middle and high school education as well," adding, "We have already begun discussions with the admissions office."
Meanwhile, President Bae pointed to physical AI as KAIST's key battleground in research. He said, "If we combine Korea's manufacturing base with AI, at least in physical AI we can reach global No. 1 (G1)," adding, "We will expand support for related research, including strengthening ties with government-funded research institutes within the Daedeok Research and Development Special Zone."
This action plan fleshes out the "globally leading innovation university strong in fundamentals" vision and the five "Beyond" strategies that President Bae presented at his inauguration. Through the innovation committee this year, KAIST will set detailed tasks and priorities and, starting next year, will fully launch implementation by field, including education, research, and startups. The goal is to produce results that members can feel by the 60th anniversary of its founding in 2031.