In the age of AI, siloed thinking is a national liability

We live in a time of explosive knowledge growth, accelerated by AI in every domain from art to quantum physics.

- POOJA ARORA

In an era long before modern academia with silos and expertise of complicated language, polymath scholars like Hemachandra (1088-1173 CE) integrated knowledge.

Hemachandra, a Jain monk and adviser to kings, was renowned as 'Kalik lasarvajña', the omniscient of his age, for contributions to poetry, mathematics, grammar, philosophy, and even political theory. In ancient India, centers of learning such as Nalanda encouraged students to study 'every branch of knowledge,' and the pursuit of wisdom was seldom divided into rigid disciplines. Over the centuries, however, education worldwide narrowed into specialization. The Renaissance polymath gave way to the modern expert ensconced in a silo.

We live in a time of explosive knowledge growth, accelerated by AI in every domain from art to quantum physics. Hyper-specialization is ill-suited to problems like climate change, pandemic response, or AI governance, which span multiple fields by nature. Fortunately, AI itself is helping shatter these silos. Modern AI, especially large language models, acts as a force multiplier for human intellect, breaking down barriers between disciplines. In effect, AI democratizes expertise: vast repositories of art, science, and literature are now a few keystrokes away for anyone. Advanced language models and tutoring systems make information and skills accessible to all, from quantum mechanics to classical music, enabling individuals to transcend traditional boundaries and become 'modern polymaths'.