At the 2026 Inclusion Bund Summit, Nobel Economics Laureate and French economist Philippe Aghion delivered a keynote address on how artificial intelligence is reshaping education and employment. He acknowledged that AI will take over certain tasks traditionally performed by humans, leading to a reduction in some job categories. Conversely, companies that integrate AI can boost their productivity and competitiveness, expand market demand, and potentially increase their workforce needs. Additionally, AI fosters novel ideas, which in turn spawns new products, enterprises, and employment opportunities.

"AI will indeed substitute for some human labor, or at least a portion of the tasks involved," Aghion stated. "But on the other hand, it also creates new jobs by enhancing productivity and igniting fresh concepts." He emphasized that a robust educational system is vital to coping with these shifts, noting that China is well-positioned in this regard. Education goes beyond merely imparting specific knowledge; its core mission is to teach students how to learn, enabling them to continuously adapt to evolving technologies and job requirements. "We need to elevate the value of manual skills and soft skills more than ever before," he argued.

Addressing the boundaries of AI within schools, Aghion recommended preserving a segment of the learning process that is entirely devoid of AI, allowing students to independently read, calculate, and reason. He stressed that any AI tools used by students must be carefully vetted and regulated, and that the associated risks should be clearly communicated to them. "If we allow AI to be misused unchecked, we could witness an entire generation that cannot calculate on their own or focus on reading, which would be extremely detrimental," he cautioned.

Turning to the labor market, Aghion cited Denmark's "flexicurity" model as a prime example. He suggested that during job transitions, a combination of unemployment benefits, retraining programs, and reemployment support could help workers navigate into new roles more smoothly. In his concluding remarks, Aghion underscored that unlocking AI's growth potential demands appropriate competition policies, while realizing its capacity to generate employment requires a sound educational framework and robust labor market protections.