Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
The world is moving faster than most of us ever expected.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how we study, work, and create. Skills that once took years to master can now be amplified or automated in seconds. Across our campus, some of you are already using AI to push boundaries in research and design. Others are still figuring out where it fits, and many quietly wonder: Will my skills still matter? Can I keep up?
Both feelings—the excitement and the anxiety—are completely normal.
I have spent more than 30 years researching AI and recognition technologies. I love seeing lab discoveries become everyday tools. But this work has taught me one vital truth: Technology only matters when it serves genuine human needs.
Years ago, my team worked with pediatricians to build an AI system that analyzed infant cries. The algorithm could identify sound patterns, but it could never soothe a baby. Calming a distressed child still required a parent’s instinct, empathy, and care.
AI gives us immense power. But the real question remains: What do we want to use that power for?
We Can’t Predict the Future, but We Can Build Resilience
Today, everyone talks about AI. Tomorrow, another breakthrough will take its place.
We cannot master every emerging tool, and we don't need to be first at everything. A great university education is never just about the specific technical skills you hold on graduation day. It is about learning how to rethink problems, adapt when old methods fail, and collaborate when the path forward is unclear.
Resilience is not about stubbornly sticking to one path. It is the confidence to pause, adjust, and try again.
YunTech’s job is not to map out every step of your life. Our job is to give you a safe, supportive place to experiment, learn from failure, and discover your own strengths.
When AI Can Do the Work, What Is Education For?
When an AI tool can draft an essay or write code in seconds, finishing an assignment no longer proves you understand the subject.
That means how we teach and evaluate must evolve:
- It is no longer enough to just finish a task.
- What matters now is asking good questions, verifying facts, thinking critically, and making ethical choices.
Tools expand what is possible, but they cannot replace the human connection at the heart of learning.
Every student grows at their own pace. Some discover their passion in their first semester; others are still searching in their senior year, balancing classes with family duties or financial pressure. An encouraging word from a mentor when you want to quit, or the perspective gained from working with someone different from you—these moments cannot be measured on a rubric, yet they stay with you for life.
The Time AI Saves Should Be Given Back to People
YunTech has always excelled at applied research, design, and industry collaboration. We solve real problems for society.
As we adopt AI across campus, we must remember our purpose:
- When technology makes us faster, we must ask how it impacts human wellbeing.
- Smart governance shouldn't mean drowning everyone in more software, dashboards, and checklists.
The time AI saves must be given back to people.
If automation cuts repetitive chores, faculty should use that freed-up time to mentor students and pursue deep research. Staff should have room to do meaningful professional work without unnecessary paperwork. Students should spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time learning.
Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted truly matters.
Guided by Our Core Values
YunTech is a young, dynamic university. Our founding motto—Sincerity, Respect, Perseverance, and Innovation (誠、敬、恆、新)—matters more today than ever:
These values define our vision: Building YunTech into a responsible smart university through innovative technology and service.
Moving Forward Together
At the start of this letter, I asked: In the age of AI, who do we aspire to become?
There is no single formula, and you do not need to have it all figured out today.
My hope is simple:
- When our students graduate, you will trust your own ability to learn anything, make thoughtful choices, and start fresh whenever needed.
- For our faculty and staff, you will always know that your dedication, empathy, and mentorship remain irreplaceable.
A responsible university does not just train people to face the unknown—it gives them the courage to do so. That is my promise to YunTech, and the journey I look forward to sharing with every one of you.