Dubai: A new research presented at the Dubai Future Forum, running on 18-19 November at the Museum of the Future, shows that many young people now turn to generative AI tools such as ChatGPT for academic support rather than approaching their teachers, driven largely by fear of judgment.
According to Emirates News Agency, Beatrice Wilson, a UNICEF Youth Foresight Fellowship fellow from Ghana, shared insights from her study, stating, "Young people felt more comfortable asking ChatGPT than asking a teacher. Sometimes when you ask a teacher a question, they respond by saying 'ask better questions'; it can make you feel like you shouldn't raise your hand at all." Speaking in the session 'Growing Into the Future: A Conversation with a Youth Foresight Fellow' during the first day of the Dubai Future Forum 2025, Wilson added that students using AI tools often face academic penalties, which conflicts with their view of AI as a beneficial learning aid. She emphasized the need for better collaboration between students and teachers and for AI to be accepted in educational settings.
Dr. Hazza Al Nuaimi, Assistant Secretary General for the Excellence and Government Services Sector at the Executive Council of Dubai, highlighted the significance of trust and accessibility in digital services during the session 'Assessing Future Readiness: Which Tool?'. He stated that for any new digital service or AI-enabled platform to be successful, society must understand, trust, and utilize it.
Richard Wiese, President of The Explorers Club, expressed optimism about human progress driven by curiosity in his session, 'Chasing Tomorrow: How Far Can Human Curiosity Take Us?'. Meanwhile, Dr. Aaron Maniam from the University of Oxford encouraged reflection on the lessons learned from recent global crises during the session 'Time Travelers' Lens: What Can the Past Teach Us About the Future?'.
The forum also explored future innovations, such as the impact of ancestral intelligence on African and diasporic futures in 'Mapping Dreams: How Are African and Diasporic Imaginations Reshaping Tomorrow?', and the role of non-traditional wearables in personal care in 'Wearables We Don't Wear: How Will Invisible Tech Redefine Care?'.
In 'The Future of Health: Do We Need to 'Re-Learn' From Nature?', experts discussed the environmental pressures of urban living, while Mohamed Shelbaya from PepsiCo addressed the global issue of water scarcity in 'Rise of the Aquapreneurs: What if the Next Wave of Sustainable Innovation Comes from Water?' He noted the severe impact of water scarcity on millions of people, particularly in the Middle East.
The morning session concluded with discussions on the resilience of global intellectual property systems in 'Future of Intellectual Property: Is It Ready for the Age of Disruption?', examining how they can support innovation and disruption in the future.
Dubai Future Forum, known as the world's largest gathering of futurists, brings together over 2,500 participants from around 100 countries, with 200 speakers from the UAE and across the globe.