Nurture hybrid AI learning environment in education

GENERATIVE AI tools like ChatGPT have transformed how we learn and work, offering incredible efficiency and convenience.

However, this convenience comes at a cost. Over-reliance on AI can diminish critical thinking skills, creativity and the ability to self-manage learning processes.

Technology has made life significantly easier, from Grab ride-hailing services to food delivery apps. These conveniences save time, but they can also encourage complacency.

Similarly, relying on AI tools for cognitive tasks may streamline processes but also risks stifling intellectual engagement. In classrooms, AI tools are becoming an everyday resource for students to complete assignments, write essays and generate ideas.

While these tools improve access to knowledge, they also create a worrying trend: Students are increasingly prioritising task completion over genuine learning.

Many university students rely on AI for quick solutions without understanding the underlying processes. Such convenience allows students to skip critical steps like reflecting, analysing, or revising their work — steps that are essential for intellectual development.

To address this, Malaysia must embrace hybrid intelligence, which integrates AI's efficiency with human creativity and ethical reasoning. For example, AI can support brainstorming and provide basic frameworks, but students must still refine and personalise their work.

So, teachers must emphasise the value of effort and teach and guide students that the learning process matters as much as the final product. Beyond academics, Malaysia must prioritise hands-on teaching and soft skills like critical thinking, adaptability and collaboration. All of these are vital for navigating today's fast-changing professional landscape.

Creativity, for instance, flourishes when individuals are pushed to explore unconventional ideas or solve complex problems. While AI can provide frameworks and suggestions, it cannot replace the innovation that comes from human imagination and real-life experiences.

Curriculums should integrate hybrid learning environments, where AI provides support but students remain active participants. Organisations can promote continuous learning by fostering environments that combine human creativity with AI's efficiency.

It's equally important to provide employees with AI ethics training, ensuring they understand the limitations and biases of these technologies.

Generative AI has immense potential to enhance productivity and expand access to knowledge, but it cannot replace human creativity, effort, or critical thinking. The challenge lies in using AI as a tool to support — not substitute — intellectual growth.

The future of education and work/career isn't about choosing between humans and AI, it's about creating a partnership that allows both to thrive.