On October 16th, Matthew Winkler, co-founder and editor emeritus of Bloomberg News, along with John Liu, Executive Editor for Greater China, and Editors-at-Large Shin Pei and Lee Miller, visited National Chengchi University’s (NCCU) International College of Innovation(ICI). They delivered a keynote lecture in the ‘Introduction to Global Studies’ course, where students and faculty engaged in vibrant discussions on the globalization of AI technology and its local impact. The session was followed by two rounds of group discussions in which students explored these themes in depth.
Winkler’s keynote, titled “Local Insights Under the Global Framework: Interpreting Taiwan’s Economy From Big Data,” coincided with the publication of his column, “Taiwan Markets Beat the World With Tech-Driven Halo” released in the same day. He examined Taiwan’s resilience through analyzing decade-long economic data of Taiwan. Drawing on Bloomberg’s extensive data resources, Winkler offered a clear, insightful analysis of Taiwan’s current economic status and its future trajectory.
He highlighted how Taiwan has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the global political and economic landscape in recent years, particularly with its leadership in the semiconductor industry, which has brought the island into the global spotlight. Notably, he pointed out that Taiwan maintained an inflation rate below 3% during the 2020 pandemic, a testament to its economic stability.
During the Q&A session moderated by course instructor Prof. Hung-Ying Chen and Bloomberg contributing editor Prof. Lee Miller, students engaged with Winkler on a range of topics. Chen raised a critical question about Taiwan’s economic dependence on the semiconductor and construction industries, asking whether this concentrated strength might also pose risks of overexposure. Winkler acknowledged that while the focus on certain industries has contributed to wage inequality and social disparities in the short term, Taiwan is poised to undergo a period of self-correction and market adjustments to address these challenges.
Winkler then shared his perspectives on future employment trends, advising the younger generation to prioritize integrity, embrace innovation, and take risks, regardless of technological advancements. He emphasized the importance of leveraging information technology to remain competitive. Students eagerly participated in the discussion, with Winkler recounting Bloomberg’s rise in the 1990s, fueled by programming and data analysis, and how the company continues to refine its financial and legal databases. He explained how Bloomberg now uses AI technology in news reporting and predictive analysis, touching on the evolving U.S.-Taiwan semiconductor relationship and the implications of the upcoming U.S. elections.
The two-roundtable discussions that followed continued the lively momentum from Winkler’s keynote. Students presented simulated news reports on topics such as AI, critical thinking and education, social inequality, misinformation, anthropogenic issues, community-driven AI tools, and crime governance.
This roundtable was a highlight of the “Introduction to Global Studies” course, where students applied their learning and tackled pressing issues, concluding the first major event of the semester on a high note.
Matthew Winkler, co-founder and editor emeritus of Bloomberg News, along with John Liu, Executive Editor for Greater China, and Editors-at-Large Shin Pei and Lee Miller, posing for a photo with participants. (Photo source: ICI)
Students listening attentively to the lecture content(Photo source: ICI)
Co-founder and Honorary Editor-in-Chief of Bloomberg News, Matthew Winkler, discussing the use of big data analytics and interpreting Taiwan’s economic resilience. (Photo source: ICI)
Students actively asking questions during the lecture. (Photo source: ICI)
