Experts come together to discuss the future of artificial intelligence in education
The Centre for Data Futures brought policymakers, practitioners and cultural leaders from the fields of AI and education to discuss how AI can deepen educational opportunities for all.
‘Human Intelligence in the Age of AI’, was hosted on 3 March by the Centre for Data Futures at King’s College London, in partnership with AI in Education and the Policy Institute. The one-day conference brought together policymakers, academics, practitioners and cultural leaders to develop a manifesto to present to the Government which sets out an expert view on what needs to be done to ensure that AI is shaped and harnessed to deepen and improve educational outcomes for all.
Sir Anthony Seldon opened the conference by asking participants to consider how human qualities such as curiosity, agency and creativity can be built into AI systems to the benefit of education, rather than to its detriment.
There is no bigger question in education at the moment than how to leverage AI to ensure that it helps to deepen human intelligence, human relations and human attributes rather than erode them. This conference has successfully put these questions on the map of every serious politician and educator.
Sir Anthony Seldon, Founding Director of WEC, co-founder of AI in Education
Professor Sylvie Delacroix, Director of the Centre for Data Futures, highlighted that there is a vital need for AI systems to develop systems that catch ‘what is hiding in the shadows’. This includes preserving ‘productive uncertainty’, making values visible and contestable, and fostering collective rather than just individual feedback.
In our enthusiasm for AI that delivers instant answers and uncovers hidden patterns, we risk overlooking something crucial: human intelligence flourishes in the fertile soil of uncertainty. The most powerful educational technology isn't one that simply illuminates what we already know or even discovers what we don't - it's technology that develops our uniquely human capacity to notice what matters, to question our own assumptions, and to attend generously to perspectives we might otherwise miss. The challenge isn't whether AI belongs in education - it's whether we can design systems that augment rather than automate away the art of paying attention.
Professor Sylvie Delacroix, Director of the Centre for Data Futures, Inaugural Jeff Price Chair in Digital Law
The Minister for Early Education, Stephen Morgan MP, spoke via pre-recorded video and noted that the Government’s mission is to break down barriers to opportunity, and harnessing the power AI has to enhance learning and outcomes for generations to come is a key part of that. The Minister also noted that the bottom line for AI tools is that they must be good enough and safe enough for use in education.
Our government's mission is to break down barriers to opportunity, and harnessing the power of AI to enhance learning outcomes for generations to come is a vital part of that. We're developing AI tools that help reduce teacher workload and give them more time to focus on what they do best - teaching. By securing the safety and efficacy of AI in education, we can unlock its full potential to help deliver the Plan for Change
Education Minister, Stephen Morgan
Professor Neil Lawrence emphasised that AI has the potential to augment education but must never replace human relationships, with real learning happening in the space between humans. He noted that education must foster metacognitive awareness, critical thinking and information literacy, as well as human connection and social skills.
The conference heard from other expert speakers including Professor Rose Luckin from University College London, Andy Wolfe from The Church of England, Sarah Ellis from the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Baroness Beeban Kirdran, who emphasised the importance of perspective and creativity in artificial intelligence.
Participants were then invited to join roundtables to consider what had been discussed so far and to collectively refine what their recommendations to Government will be, with an update on next steps expected in the coming weeks.
