KUALA LUMPUR (June 10): Empathy and cultural understanding are both “so important” in the world still plagued by divisions, as well as by uncertainties arising from technological advancements, geopolitics, and the impact of the climate crisis, said Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
On top of technical understanding, what is needed to steer humanity through these challenging times are “compassion, togetherness and, above all, a sense of global community” that shares the concerns and responsibilities in building “a kinder and stronger world”, Nazrin said.
According to Nazrin, considerations of ethical implications of one’s actions have become integral to business practices and stakeholder capitalism.
Translating knowledge and truth into positive real-world impact has perhaps never been more important, he added.
“Now, as well as ESG (environmental, social and governance) considerations, it is also imperative to take seriously ethical implications of the latest technological advances.
“Not only those posed by generative AI (artificial intelligence), but also those of existing ICT (information and communications technology) and other technological developments as well.
"We must make sure that tackling these issues head-on becomes an equally integral part of the business world as corporate governance, for example, already is,” Nazrin said during the commencement address at the Asia School of Business graduation ceremony here.
The Perak Sultan cited “seismic” new developments in technologies such as generative AI, which is seen as both a boon and bane to mankind, considering how the technology could boost productivity, but also reshape the workplace landscape and uproot the existing workforce.
“While the changing landscape presents exciting opportunities, with challenges in need of solutions, and so many discoveries and innovations waiting to be made, it is also daunting. It will require members of the workforce of tomorrow to be inventive, proactive and adaptable, in ways never demanded before,” he said.
Nazrin said that at some level, the application of knowledge has always been the most cherished purpose of education, adding that the specific knowledge being imparted is far less important than the skills being developed while acquiring it.
“I do believe that soft skills are, at our present moment, more important than they have ever been before. Now more than ever, we must understand better in order to act effectively, and we must act urgently,” Nazrin said.