Do Thai students still see a future in the age of AI?

Bangkok Post

3 days ago

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems increasingly handle entry-level tasks from data analysis to content creation, an interview shows Thai university students are approaching the technology with measured concern rather than outright fear.
The current reality
The job market for new graduates has become increasingly challenging, with AI advancement making work across industries more automated.
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, predicts AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within five years.
US college graduate unemployment has jumped to 5.8%, with human resources surveys showing 90% of executives likely to avoid hiring recent graduates, preferring freelancers or retired workers instead.
Economic reality behind the fear
A significant concern that emerges from student responses is the economic driving force behind AI adoption. Students repeatedly mentioned that companies might prefer AI "because it's also more cost-effective" and "might not require high wages and would reduce the cost of hiring human labour."
One student noted that while AI quality might be lower, "everyone likes using AI because it's easy. Just click and input, and you get an answer immediately." This convenience factor, combined with cost savings, creates a challenging environment for new graduates regardless of AI's current limitations.
Field-specific vulnerabilities and response patterns
The interview reveals that different fields face varying degrees of immediate threat, which directly correlates with students' concern levels. Rather than uniform responses, Thai students express emotions ranging from "very scared" to "not worried," with many finding themselves "about 50% worried."
High-concern fields: Students in translation and content creation acknowledge more urgent concerns. A translation student admitted being "quite scared" because their profession sits "at the top of the list for job displacement." However, they noted that effective translation involves "the culture of that language" and creative adaptation that "AI still can't do."
Medium-concern fields: Marketing and journalism students see mixed impacts. A journalism student explained that while information gathering becomes easier, fashion journalism "requires a human touch" because "art or fashion is quite subjective."
Lower-concern fields: Engineering, law and psychology students express greater confidence. An engineering student emphasised that "if humans don't sign and approve structures and various projects, when problems arise, who will take responsibility? AI cannot take responsibility."
Interestingly, students with direct AI experience often show more nuanced views. A law student shared: "I once used it to help with work, it was decent, but I didn't trust it and did it myself. ChatGPT gave me completely wrong legal provisions."
Human elements AI cannot replicate
Despite varying levels of concern, students consistently identified capabilities that remain uniquely human: A psychology student noted that while "AI is knowledgeable," it's "not as emotionally intelligent." Students stressed that while AI might have professional skills, it "lacks ethics, emotions, thoughts and feelings."
Translation students highlighted that effective communication requires understanding cultural nuances, while others noted that real work "doesn't just follow what we planned" and requires "immediate problem-solving that requires looking at the situation at that moment."
Multiple students emphasised that AI cannot take responsibility for decisions or provide the case-by-case consideration that many professions require.
The path forward
The responses reveal that Thai graduands are neither dismissing AI's impact nor succumbing to panic. Instead, they are identifying strategic approaches to remain relevant:
Students consistently highlighted capabilities AI cannot replicate, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, cultural sensitivity and creative problem-solving.
Many students had practical experience with AI tools and understood their constraints, from translation nuances to legal accuracy issues.
Rather than seeing AI as purely threatening, students recognised its potential to enhance work efficiency while maintaining human oversight.
Rather than viewing AI as an existential threat, the interview revealed that these students see opportunity for collaboration. As one student summarised: "I see AI as coming to help make work easier rather than stealing jobs, for my field."