PhD Thomas Chiu

About the Expert

Professor Thomas Chiu is an edtech professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a former government advisor on ICT policy. With a background in education and software engineering, he has built learning platforms and developed AI strategies for classrooms across Asia.

He is recognized as one of the top 2% most-cited researchers in the world in the field of education, according to global citation rankings.

His work focuses on adaptive learning environments, AI literacy, and the mental wellbeing of students in the digital age.

Artificial intelligence wasn't just artificial — but an alternative way of thinking about learning itself?

As AI enters classrooms worldwide, it's not enough to ask what it can do — we must ask how it changes the people who learn and teach with it. In this insightful conversation, Professor Thomas Chiu, a leading edtech expert from Hong Kong, argues that AI should be seen not as artificial intelligence, but as alternative intelligence — offering new perspectives, but never replacing human decision-making.

From bridging the gap between teachers and students in the AI era, to rethinking the skills we truly need in the future, Professor Chiu challenges us to redefine both education and wellbeing in a world shaped by technology.

Get ready to rethink AI's place in the classroom — not as the answer, but as part of the question.

What happens when AI becomes a student's learning partner?

In Professor Chiu's view, AI's role in education isn't to replace teachers or automate learning — it's to provide alternative perspectives that support human judgment. Much like YouTube recommends videos but leaves the final choice to the viewer, AI can suggest learning paths, but it's up to students and teachers to decide what's best.

He highlights two big challenges in today's classrooms:

• A growing gap between students who actively use AI tools and teachers who are hesitant to allow them, and • The fact that most AI platforms, like ChatGPT or Zoom, were never designed for education in the first place.

To address this, Chiu calls for a shift in mindset. Education systems must embrace AI, but also prioritize students' mental and physical health, creating space for balance, outdoor activities, and human connection. AI can help monitor wellness — but it cannot replace it.

Looking to the future, he envisions a three-level approach to AI in education:

• AI for All: basic AI literacy for every student through school curricula. • AI for Some: additional learning for interested students through external platforms. • AI for Gifted Learners: advanced AI education through partnerships with industry and service providers.

Ultimately, he argues, education won't change overnight — but AI and students will change first, and schools will eventually follow.

🎥 Watch the full interview with Professor Thomas Chiu in the video.

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