Artificial intelligence (AI) is making our lives easier today, but serious thought must be given to the challenges it may create in the future.
Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah said this on Saturday as he addressed the closing session of the 6th National Education Summit 2026 at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, (IBA) as the chief guest.
Beginning his address, he remarked, “It feels as though artificial intelligence has launched an attack; now we must think about our defence.”
He stated that AI was influencing human thinking, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and patterns of thought, making it essential for us to connect our future generations not only with technology but also with humanity, nature, observation and creative consciousness.
The summit, titled ‘Nurturing Future-Ready Learners: Leadership Dialogue on AI and Generation Alpha’, was organised by Pakistan Academic Consortium in collaboration with the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions Sindh.
The event was attended by education experts, policymakers and representatives of educational institutions along with individuals from various walks of life. The summit, held at the G&T Auditorium of IBA Karachi, featured sessions and panel discussions on future-ready learners, evolving educational requirements, artificial intelligence, Generation Alpha and student leadership.
In his opening remarks, School Education Secretary Sindh Zahid Ali Abbasi highlighted modern educational challenges, changing global demands and the importance of innovation in the education system.
During a session titled ‘Reclaiming Human Agency in Education’, speakers discussed the human role in education, creative thinking and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. They emphasised that in the rapidly changing AI era, education must remain human-centered and purposeful.
Meanwhile, in the panel discussion ‘Redefining Learning for Generation Alpha: What Must Change Now’, representatives from the Sindh government, Aga Khan University Examination Board, Ziauddin University, and Cambridge jointly stressed the need for moving beyond traditional education toward skill-based learning models for the new generation.
In the session ‘Generation Alpha Is Here’, speakers explored the requirements for preparing the AI-native generation for the future, while the session ‘The Human Advantage in the Age of Artificial Intelligence’ highlighted the importance of balancing human intelligence with technology for the future of education.
In his address, the education minister said that if children were not connected with nature, the earth and real-life experiences, AI would dominate their thinking. He remarked that a child may recognise elements of nature through pictures, but the real question is how close that child actually is to nature in real life.
Referring to the tensions between Iran and United States, he said the situation demonstrated how a country, despite being technologically weaker, could still stand firmly for its land, identity and values. He added that children must be connected with their land, culture and society, noting that Iran had especially focused on STEM education.
Shah added that society must nurture a generation that used technology without forgetting humanity. “If children become confined only to screens, their creative abilities will suffer,” he warned.
He said that human connection, emotions and observation should never disappear from education. AI may provide convenience, but it can never replace human consciousness, emotions and lived experience, he added.
He predicted that those who possessed creative, critical and practical thinking would be the most successful in the future.
The education minister emphasised that education must be aligned with local realities, the environment and human values while encouraging children to develop habits of questioning, thinking and research. He said that in the age of AI, the role of teachers had become even more important.
Technology should serve as a support for humanity rather than a substitute for it, he said.
At the conclusion of the summit, education experts shared recommendations and experiences regarding modern educational challenges, the impact of AI, and the preparation of future-ready learners.
