Facing the AI Wave: Do We Need More Math-and-Physics Engineers, or People Who Bridge Technology and the Humanities?

Robin: “Facing the AI wave, do we need more engineers versed in mathematics and physics, like Elon Musk, or should we cultivate more people like Steve Jobs, who bridge ‘technology’ and ‘the humanities’?” --- More than once, Steve Jobs closed a product presentation with a slide showing a crossroads: one street sign read “Technology,” the other “Liberal Arts.” Steve Jobs: “Apple can create products like the iPad because we have always tried to stand at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts.” The idea originally came from Polaroid founder Edwin Land, who said, “People who can stand at the intersection of the humanities and technology, drawing on the strengths of both, are pillars of society.” After seeing these words, Jobs adopted them as a personal motto that ran through his life and Apple’s entire product line.