AI may one day surpass human intelligence. For now, it is helping us move forwardâfast. Emergency services save more lives, roads become safer, and robots work more efficiently. But at VUB, progress alone is never enough. Our researchers ask the harder questions. What does AI mean for education, work and democracy? And what role should a university play in shaping that future? In this new VUB Tomorrow special, youâll discover how our researchers are not just observing change, but actively and critically shaping it.
A selection from VUB Tomorrow
"We are going back to exams with pen and paper"
AI can support students. But according to VUB scientist Tim Brys, it also risks taking over the very thinking processes that make learning meaningful. In an age of acceleration, he argues for slowing downâfocusing, practising, and truly understanding.
Should universities take greater control of AI research?
AI experts Ann Dooms and Luc Steels warn that AI development is increasingly dominated by major US tech companiesâand thatâs a problem. In History of Ideas in the Science of AI, they call for stronger investment in fundamental research and a more prominent role for universities. âUniversities must look twenty years ahead.â
âThe campus of the future is physical, online and immersiveâ
What happens when a campus is no longer tied to a single place? Professor Kateryna Osadcha explores how traditional teaching, online learning, AI and immersive technologies can merge into a new model. Her vision of the âtribrid campusâ shows how technology can make education more accessible, flexible and engaging.
AI in emergency care: high-tech support with a human focus
Through the European Horizon project ESCORT, VUB and UZ Brussel are exploring how AI and digital tools can strengthen emergency care. From connected ambulances to smart disaster response, technology enables faster, more targeted decisionsâwithout losing sight of the human factor. âAI can support better decisions in the patientâs best interest.â
Teaching AI to read tables properly
How do you ensure AI not only processes documents quickly, but also understands them correctly? In his PhD research, Willy Carlos Tchuitcheu developed a method that enables computers to interpret tables more accurately. The result: more reliable and precise document processing, with applications across business, administration and scientific research.
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