Seiichiro Takeuchi, Yomiuri Shimbun correspondent in Taiwan, and Hui-Wen Chen, reporter at the Yomiuri Shimbun Taipei Bureau, visited Tamkang University on January 9 to interview its AI-led governance initiatives. They were received by Prof. Ben-Hang Chang, Director of the Carrie Chang Fine Arts Center, and Tzung-Hang Lee, Dean of the Colleges of Engineering, Artificial Innovative Intelligence, and Precision Healthcare. After attending briefings and personally experiencing the Smart e-Pen, Takeuchi remarked that Japan has a saying, “人間六十、手習い”, meaning it is never too late to learn, and noted that Tamkang University’s promotion of AI in education is highly worthy of learning from in Japan.

At the AI Virtual Reality Field, Dean Lee briefed the two journalists on how Tamkang University is actively advancing the dual transformation of AI and ESG, and on the current status of its all-cloud smart campus. He emphasized that Tamkang not only collaborates closely with global technology leaders such as NVIDIA, AMD, and Microsoft, but has also established AI training centers with the goal of equipping every student with hands-on capabilities to develop personal GPTs and AI agents.

Lee further introduced how Tamkang University translates technology into real-world applications through industry–academia collaboration, spanning smart healthcare, energy-saving management, and digital calligraphy art, demonstrating strong research capacity. To enhance competitiveness, the University promotes international certifications and a micro-credential system to ensure students obtain credible, cross-disciplinary qualifications. He concluded by highlighting Tamkang’s commitment to empowering local industries and communities through AI, striving to build a “Smart Eastern Silicon Valley” that integrates technology, the humanities, and social responsibility.

“AI has changed the way we appreciate art,” said Chang, noting that Tamkang’s long-term AI R&D efforts have already borne fruit through integration with the Apple Pencil. With the Shu Zuo Yu Cheng (Calligraphy Mastery) system now online, ancient calligraphy rubbings can be reconstructed into dynamic brushstrokes via AI, “even characters that Wang Xizhi never wrote can be generated.” This has become a boon for calligraphy learners. Viewing the promotion of calligraphy as a lifelong mission, Chang has extended these efforts beyond Taiwan to Japan, where Chinese character writing is also highly valued. Beginning in April this year, Tamkang University has partnered with Japanese universities to enable students to learn calligraphy using the Smart e-Pen. He expressed hope that the Tamkang-developed Smart e-Pen will allow young people in the AI era to experience calligraphy, while also helping older adults embrace new technologies.