On May 21, UNIST held an appointment ceremony for Ji Young Lee, a distinguished social studies instructor, officially appointing her as a Collaborating Professor in the Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence. The three-year appointment commenced on May 1 and will extend through April 30, 2028.
Following the ceremony, Professor Lee, whose background is in ethics, delivered a special lecture titled “Artificial Consciousness & AI Ethics: Is Humanity Prepared for the Age of AI?” engaging with UNIST faculty and students on issues related to AI consciousness and ethical considerations. Through this appointment, UNIST aims to strengthen AI ethics education and foster human-centered AI experts.
A special lecture by Professor Lee took place in the 2F Main Auditorium of the Main Administration Building at UNIST on February 21, 2025.
As the importance of ethical boundaries in AI continues to grow, Professor Lee’s expertise is expected to enhance UNIST’s initiatives in AI ethics and promote collaborative efforts beyond academia.
This appointment aligns with UNIST’s strategic efforts to attract leading figures in AI, including the recent appointment of Sedol Lee, the renowned 9-dan ranked South Korean professional Go player, as a Collaborating Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering within the College of Engineering and the Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence. UNIST is actively working to develop an AI campus that encourages interdisciplinary education and research, with the goal of nurturing human-centered AI professionals.
President Chongrae Park of UNIST remarked, “The demand for experts who can address AI consciousness, ethics, and social responsibility is increasing.” He further noted, “Professor Lee’s extensive experience in public communication and education will be instrumental in advancing our efforts in AI ethics and consciousness.”
Professor Lee is delivering a special lecture titled “Artificial Consciousness & AI Ethics: Is Humanity Prepared for the Age of AI?” at UNIST on February 21, 2025.
Professor Lee expressed her commitment, stating, “Through UNIST’s AI consciousness and ethics programs, I hope to support the next generation of AI professionals in developing a strong sense of social responsibility.” She added, “I am also dedicated to actively supporting research grounded in ethical principles.”
Professor Lee earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Ethics Education from Seoul National University and is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in the same field. With over ten years of experience as a social studies instructor, she has trained more than four million students nationwide.
