"The key is not whether to use AI, but to enhance our insight and develop our own edge," said Kim Nan-do, a professor emeritus at Seoul National University, during a press conference on September 30 at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, to discuss the release of 'Trend Korea 2027.'
The ten key trends identified are: boredom society, life ROI, form factor shift, try-economy, saving humanity, vibe working, re-tension strategy, human edge, half signal, and insight capital.
Kim emphasized that none of these keywords directly mention AI. As AI has become a ubiquitous part of daily life, the focus has shifted from the technology itself to how it transforms society, organizations, and individuals, and how humans respond to these changes.
The first keyword, 'boredom society,' refers to a state where excessive stimulation leads to boredom. Kim noted, "These days, many people ask, 'Isn't there anything interesting going on?' While there are many busy people, it's rare to find someone who says they are having fun." Despite being surrounded by constant stimulation from shorts, social media, games, and streaming services, memorable experiences are scarce. He described this phenomenon as 'busy boredom.' "We rush through our days, yet we accumulate no meaningful or enjoyable experiences," he said.
Kim suggested that in such times, it is essential to endure moments of 'the valley of boredom.' He stated, "Creative and enjoyable things often emerge from boredom, yet we fill our time with social media and short content, leading to a paradoxical era where we lack genuine time to feel bored."
On the other hand, AI has significantly lowered the barriers to experimentation, which is encapsulated in the keyword 'try-economy.' In the past, individuals would prepare thoroughly and organize before starting a task, but now they can begin and refine their efforts as they go, thanks to technologies like AI that expand the areas where individuals can act without expert or organizational support.
In this era of producing outcomes, the source of differentiation lies in 'humanity.' Kim explained this through the concepts of 'human edge' and 'insight capital.' The unique processes, personal touch, time invested, and even minor flaws can become differentiating factors (human edge). 'Insight capital' refers to the ability to discover different values in the same observations.
Kim emphasized, "In the AI era, the greatest virtue for our survival is insight," stressing that as the ability to produce outcomes becomes more standardized, the ability to discern quality becomes paramount. He suggested that one way to enhance insight is through 'memoing.' Instead of merely taking a photo of Damien Hirst's shark artwork, one should write down how the piece makes them feel.
He remarked, "The dilemma of living in a time of rapid change is that there is no guarantee that what has worked well in the past will continue to do so. What was a solution yesterday can suddenly become a problem today."
He underscored the importance of firsthand experience and judgment. "In a time of upheaval, can we cultivate our insight, take action, and work with vibrancy? That is a significant challenge."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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