#Education

Are you smarter because of the month you were born? A newly trending wave of expert and pop-psychology opinion pieces claims that some birth months may be linked to higher intelligence—yet, beneath the headlines, the science remains far from settled. As discussions heat up online, Thai parents and educators are asking: can a child’s birth in January, February, or even the autumn, make a difference in their academic and intellectual prospects?

A new MIT study raises critical questions about how AI writing tools like ChatGPT affect student thinking and creativity. Published in June 2025, the research suggests that using AI writing aids can blunt brain activity and produce more formulaic essays. The findings spark a global conversation, including in Thailand, about how to balance digital tools with foundational skills in classrooms.

The study followed 54 college students who wrote SAT-style essays on philosophical topics, such as the desirability of a perfect society and the moral obligations of the fortunate to help others. Participants were assigned to three conditions: using ChatGPT, using Google Search, or writing without digital help. Researchers tracked brain activity with EEG across 32 brain regions during the writing tasks.

A growing debate over AI and education is shaping how Thailand prepares its students for an AI-powered future. A recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece warned that AI could magnify a crisis in critical thinking among young people, not by outpacing humans in math, but by dulling the analytical and creative muscles that drive innovation. For Thai educators, policymakers, and parents, the question is how to balance technology with robust thinking skills in a rapidly digitizing classroom landscape.

A provocative new article titled “12 reasons to ignore computer science degrees” published by CIO.com has ignited vigorous debate in the global and Thai tech communities. The piece challenges the long-held assumption that computer science (CS) degrees are a necessary ticket to a thriving career in technology, spotlighting changes driven by artificial intelligence, low-code tools, and the shifting demands of the IT job market. As the technology landscape rapidly evolves, the question is more relevant than ever: Is a university degree in computer science still the golden key to tech hiring, or has that paradigm shifted?

A new wave of psychological research is shedding light on how individuals can break free from cycles of guilt, shame, and rejection, empowering Thais and people worldwide to lead healthier, more resilient lives. As emotional challenges become more pronounced in the age of social media, rapid social change, and competitive societies like Thailand’s, practical strategies for unhooking from negative emotional patterns are gaining increased attention from mental health experts and the general public alike.

A new era of digital inequality is emerging worldwide, as recent research reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) computing power is rapidly becoming concentrated in just a handful of countries and companies. This growing divide between AI “haves” and “have-nots” is set to disrupt economies, fuel geopolitical rivalries, and shape the scientific and social futures of entire nations, according to a major new investigation by Oxford University researchers and reporting by The New York Times (nytimes.com).

A groundbreaking study from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience has unveiled that human perception is powerfully shaped by expectation, with our brains often “seeing” what we anticipate rather than what our eyes actually detect. This discovery, published in the journal Cell Reports, sheds new light on how daily life feels seamless and highlights surprising mechanisms within our neural circuits—insights that carry implications for health, technology, and Thai society alike (Earth.com).

A surge of psychological research offers practical ways to escape cycles of guilt, shame, and rejection. For Thais and people worldwide, these insights support healthier, more resilient lives amid fast social change, busy online spaces, and competitive environments.

Recent guidance highlighted by Psychology Today focuses on practical steps to reduce the impact of guilt, shame, and rejection. While these emotions are universal, Thai readers often contend with a culture that prizes social harmony, respect, and reputation. Experts note that such cultural expectations can intensify self-criticism and fear of exclusion, even in everyday interactions.

A groundbreaking study from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience shows that our brains often “see” what we expect to see, not just what our eyes detect. Published in Cell Reports, the research reveals the brain’s powerful use of expectation to make daily life feel seamless. For Thai readers, the findings offer new angles on health, education, technology, and everyday interaction in crowded, fast-paced environments.

In everyday scenes, such as watching someone prepare breakfast, the brain’s action observation network helps predict what happens next. The researchers contrasted two types of scenes: orderly sequences and scrambled ones. Using millisecond-precise brain recordings, they found that when actions flowed as expected, higher-level motor areas sent signals to the visual cortex to ease sensory processing. The brain effectively lightened the eye’s workload by relying on memory and learned sequences.

A new wave of digital inequality is forming as AI computing power concentrates in a few countries and firms. An Oxford University study, reinforced by in-depth reporting from a leading U.S. newspaper, shows that most powerful AI systems run on data centers owned by a handful of players. This gap threatens economic competitiveness, scientific progress, and national security for countries outside the core hubs, including Thailand.

The opening of OpenAI’s planned massive data center in Texas illustrates the scale of resources now required to run cutting-edge AI. In contrast, researchers in some regions operate aging hardware in makeshift facilities, underscoring a widening gulf in compute power that is outpacing growth elsewhere.

The intersection of design and computer science is revealing innovative possibilities for the way we live, shop, and build—thanks to cutting-edge research emerging from institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A recent report highlights the work of a MAD Fellow at MIT, a graduate student innovating by merging artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and robotics with human-centric design to create systems that make everyday tasks smarter and more intuitive. This approach is not just shaping the future of architecture and retail but also carries implications for sustainable development and community resilience—including lessons with strong relevance for Thailand’s rapidly modernising society.

A cutting-edge collaboration between design and computer science is reshaping how we live, shop, and build. At the forefront is an MIT MAD Fellow whose work merges artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and robotics with human-centered design. The goal: create systems that make everyday tasks smarter and more intuitive. The implications reach beyond architecture and retail, touching sustainable development and community resilience with clear relevance for Thailand’s fast-growing, modernising landscape.

Thailand’s dense cities and rural communities stand to gain from these global advances in user experience and digital tools. The flagship Curator AI platform exemplifies the trend. It streamlines online furniture shopping by combining AR with vision-language AI to offer personalized, context-aware recommendations. By scanning room dimensions and allowing natural-language requests, Curator AI suggests furniture options and visualizes them in place, simplifying decision-making. The research team described Curator AI as a solution for people who don’t know where to start when furnishing a room. The project’s smart blend of speech and visual analysis helped it win first prize at an MIT AI Build hackathon, bringing funding and recognition to the team’s approach. Data and updates come from MIT News reports.

Recent attention has focused on the formative practices instilled in Japanese children, revealing cultural foundations that foster discipline, empathy, and a sense of community. Drawing from a recent article, “10 things Japanese children are taught in childhood” published by the Times of India (source), as well as supporting research and educational policy reviews, this report unpacks these quintessentially Japanese values, examines their impact, and explores lessons for Thai families and educators.

A recent exploration of Japanese childhood practices reveals a set of foundational habits that cultivate discipline, empathy, and community. Drawing on a Times of India feature about what Japanese children are taught, along with supporting research and policy reviews, this piece reframes these lessons for Thai audiences and educators.

Japan is renowned for social order, public respect, and strong educational outcomes. Beyond quiet trains and orderly queues, its core lessons begin in early childhood: emotional self-control, deep respect, patience, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and the ability to find joy in calm celebrations. For Thailand, which is balancing tradition with modernization in education, Japan’s holistic approach offers provocative ideas and practical steps.

A new wave of research and reporting reveals that many millennials—now entering their 40s and 50s—are feeling trapped in their professional and personal lives, unable to afford the traditional “midlife crisis” once seen as a rite of passage for previous generations. While prior generations indulged in red sports cars or sabbaticals to seek purpose, millennials face economic and technological pressures that make drastic changes feel nearly impossible. This generational stagnation is drawing concern from mental health experts, economists, and those closely observing how work, money, and meaning intersect in the post-pandemic world (Business Insider).

A new wave of parenting research highlights a simple truth: children listen better when conversations are respectful and emotionally intelligent. A CNBC report published on June 22, 2025, summarizes findings from a study of over 200 parent-child relationships. The research suggests that many “toxic” phrases trigger defensiveness and lessen cooperation, even when adults intend to be helpful. For Thai families, educators, and caregivers, the message is clear: adjust everyday language to foster autonomy, validation, and trust.

A new wave of research on effective parenting sheds light on an issue as old as parenthood itself: why children refuse to listen. A recent report by a leading expert in conscious parenting, published by CNBC on June 22, 2025, argues that the root cause may be far more subtle than outright rebellion — rooted instead in the very language adults use when communicating with young people (CNBC).

For Thai parents — and educators and caregivers — the findings underscore the importance of respectful, emotionally intelligent communication in nurturing the next generation. With research based on over 200 parent-child relationships, the core message is clear: common ’toxic’ phrases, while often habitual, tend to trigger defensiveness and lower cooperation among children. The study promotes a shift in parental language, advocating for phrases that foster autonomy and emotional validation rather than compliance born out of fear or shame.

A wave of new research shows many millennials—now entering their 40s and 50s—feel stuck in both careers and personal lives. The old idea of a dramatic midlife crisis is fading as economic and tech pressures make drastic changes feel nearly impossible. Mental health experts, economists, and observers note that work, money, and meaning are increasingly misaligned in the post-pandemic era.

For Thai readers, the implications are significant. Thailand’s population is aging, and its millennial workforce forms the backbone of the economy. Many in their 30s and 40s juggle family duties with financial insecurity, particularly in urban centers like Bangkok and Chiang Mai where living costs have risen sharply. The global struggle resonates with young Thai professionals, small business owners, and gig workers who report burnout and difficulty pursuing bold life changes.

A Google software engineer’s candid guidance is circulating among Thai students as they navigate a highly competitive tech job market. The interview highlights a clear path: secure early internships, master problem-solving fundamentals, and manage applications with an organized strategy. For Thai computer science students, these insights come at a time when global tech layoffs and AI-driven shifts are reshaping hiring expectations.

With new graduates entering a challenging landscape, the engineer’s advice feels timely. He notes that first- and second-year internship programs often have a markedly lower hiring bar, with interviews tailored to earlier-stage students. This approach helps applicants build confidence and gain practical experience before competing with near-graduates. Thai educators echo this sentiment, emphasizing that structured internships improve interview readiness and allow students to tailor their preparation for each company and round.

A Google software engineer’s practical advice for students aspiring to enter the tech industry is making waves after his recent interview provided a reality check—and a roadmap—amid fierce competition for software jobs. The engineer, who secured a full-time position at Google after two successive summer internships, advocates for seizing early internship opportunities, mastering problem-solving fundamentals, and strategically positioning oneself through organized job search tactics. His insights offer much-needed clarity for Thai computer science students facing a challenging global job market reshaped by a recent wave of tech layoffs and the growing presence of artificial intelligence.

A groundbreaking new study from the University of Missouri has found that hope, not happiness or gratitude, is the key emotional force underpinning a sense of meaning in life. This discovery challenges widely held beliefs about the drivers of well-being and suggests far-reaching implications for mental health and resilience, both globally and here in Thailand.

Traditionally, happiness and gratitude have been at the centre of discussions on how to lead a good and satisfying life. Thai society, with its deep reverence for “sanuk” (enjoyment) and frequent encouragement of “kreng jai” (gratitude and social harmony), echoes these themes. However, the latest research reveals that while these feelings are valuable, it is hope—the forward-looking expectation that things can improve—that gives life its deepest sense of purpose and direction (Earth.com; Show Me Mizzou).

A new study from the University of Missouri finds that hope—not happiness or gratitude—is the strongest emotional driver of a meaningful life. The finding challenges common beliefs about well-being and carries implications for mental health and resilience worldwide, including Thailand.

Traditionally, happiness and gratitude have dominated discussions about a good life. In Thai culture, sanuk (enjoyment) and kreng jai (gratitude and social harmony) are deeply valued. The latest research suggests these feelings matter, but hope—the future-oriented belief that improvement is possible—most strongly shapes life meaning. Researchers note that hope emerges as a vital emotional experience that enriches purpose, not merely a cognitive goal-setting process.

A new psychological study suggests that people with higher levels of psychopathic traits can recognize when a situation is unfair, but are less likely to take action to punish unfair behavior. The findings, highlighted by PsyPost, illuminate how personality influences responses to injustice and raise important questions for education, mental health, and policy in Thailand and beyond.

For Thai readers concerned with social justice and community well-being, the research offers fresh insight into why some bystanders may remain passive when others suffer from unfair treatment. While the archetype of a psychopath emphasizes a lack of empathy, the latest results show that recognition of unfairness does not always translate into intervention. Instead, individuals with pronounced psychopathic traits may assess the personal costs and benefits before deciding whether to respond.

The tech world is moving fast with artificial intelligence and automation, prompting a global debate: is a traditional computer science degree still essential for a successful tech career? A provocative piece titled “12 reasons to ignore computer science degrees” from CIO has sparked widespread discussion about the value of formal CS education in today’s AI-driven landscape.

In Thailand, this debate hits close to home. With digital transformation accelerating across Bangkok’s IT hubs, Chiang Mai’s startup scene, and universities like Chulalongkorn and Mahidol, Thai students and employers are weighing the best path into technology careers. The question remains whether a degree or practical, hands-on learning is more effective in propelling a future-proof career.