This is not a conventional classroom: Prof. Worsak

Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, addressing the first cohort of AITSPIN students on August 17, 2026.

“This is not a conventional classroom.”

The message appeared on the screen as Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Founding Executive Director of the AIT School of Professional Intelligence (AITSPIN), welcomed the School’s inaugural cohort on 17 August 2026.

The inaugural cohort is notable for several reasons. It brings together multiple generations of learners and 50 professionals who have chosen to become learners again. They come from different professions and generations, yet form one cohesive learning community. Seventy percent come from business and engineering, while the others represent education, the maritime sector, uniformed services, economics and development, and design.

Elaborating on AITSPIN’s mission during his welcome remarks, Prof. Worsak noted that the cohort is international in both its orientation and outlook. Nine nationalities are represented, with learners from Thailand, Bangladesh, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong S.A.R., Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Perhaps the most striking feature of the cohort, however, is its age range. While the youngest learner is 22 years old, the oldest is 76.

An encouraging aspect is that employers are keen to support their employees in acquiring the latest knowledge, skills and expertise. More than half of the learners, 28 out of 50, are sponsored by their employers, which Prof. Worsak described as a strong vote of confidence in AITSPIN’s first intake. Moreover, this confidence comes from both the private and public sectors, in an almost 60:40 ratio.

More importantly, that support is an acknowledgement of AITSPIN’s critical mission of developing professionals and organisations for AI transformation. Professional Intelligence, according to Prof. Worsak, is the ability to combine AI capability, human intelligence and professional expertise in real-world work. The Resilience Pentagon provides the broader framework, bringing together AI literacy, data reasoning, entrepreneurship, global connectivity and sustainability. Prof. Worsak stressed that in the AI era, direction matters more than speed. Since AI tools are increasingly available to everyone, it is human direction and judgement that provide the real advantage.

Prof. Worsak also warned that AI can accelerate confusion. It can even make organisations less efficient by generating more emails, reports, drafts, analyses and dashboards without improving judgement, accountability or execution. As he explained, “AI amplifies whatever system it enters. If the system is confused, AI can amplify the confusion.”

He also drew a clear distinction between AI adoption and AI transformation. AI transformation means embedding AI across strategy, operations, products and decision-making to create new value and fundamentally change how professions and organisations work. AITSPIN’s ultimate goal is transformation at multiple levels, from the individual to the organisation, and from organisations to the country and society as a whole, he concluded.