GEF Madrid 2024: AI and Lifelong Learning

Summary

This panel discussion explores the intersection of lifelong learning and AI, emphasizing the importance of neuroplasticity and the brain's adaptability. Panelists from diverse backgrounds, including education and technology, share their perspectives on integrating AI into learning experiences. They discuss the role of AI in personalizing education, the need for critical thinking alongside AI, and the ethical implications of AI-driven learning pathways. The conversation underscores the necessity for human interaction and experiential learning, despite AI's growing influence in education.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The power of neuroplasticity and its potential for lifelong learning were highlighted as exciting concepts that can be utilized in AI and education.
• 🌟 Lifelong learning is seen as a purposeful, ongoing activity that extends beyond formal education, fostering personal growth and enhancing career prospects.
• 🏛 The role of educators is evolving to include the integration of AI in educational programs, with a focus on how to teach students to effectively interact with AI.
• 🤖 AI's generative capabilities are being explored for personalized learning experiences, with the potential for AI companions that adapt to an individual's learning journey throughout life.
• 🎓 There is a discussion on the relevance of education in the context of labor market needs, emphasizing the importance of aligning lifelong learning with industry demands.
• 🔗 The importance of social and emotional learning was underscored, with the acknowledgment that AI cannot replace human interaction and the development of soft skills.
• 🏫 The future of universities may involve a redefinition of their role, with the potential for AI to open up new channels for knowledge dissemination beyond traditional classroom settings.
• 💡 Critical thinking was identified as a crucial skill in the age of AI, where humans must discern the information and arguments presented by AI systems.
• 🌐 There is an ethical dimension to AI's influence on education and lifelong learning, with concerns about who controls the direction of AI and its impact on job markets and skills development.
• 🛠 The potential of AI to assist in personalized learning is balanced by the need for human autonomy in making choices about one's educational path and goals.
• 🚀 The conversation suggests that AI is not a replacement for human educators but a tool that can enhance teaching and learning when used appropriately alongside human interaction and judgment.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the panel discussion?

The main topic of the panel discussion is lifelong learning and its relationship with AI and technology, as well as the role of education in facilitating lifelong learning.

What is the role of Ismael Gomez in the discussion?

Ismael Gomez is the director of digital strategy for OEI (Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture), and he discusses his interest in lifelong learning and its intersection with technology and AI.

What is the significance of Alvar Fernande's work in the context of the panel?

Alvar Fernande runs a think tank called Shar Brains, which focuses on brain science and its application in various contexts. His work is significant as it explores how understanding the brain can enhance lifelong learning.

How does Andre CEO and cofounder of BERS view the role of AI in customer service and sales?

Andre believes in the power of generative AI to improve the relationship between companies and their clients, particularly in the retail sector, by providing personalized help and services.

What is Anene Bort's perspective on integrating AI into educational programs?

Anene Bort, as a rector magnificus of Atus University and former professor in the ethics of emerging technologies, is passionate about integrating AI into educational programs in a way that is useful and democratic, making it accessible to a broader workforce.

What is the panel's view on the importance of critical thinking in lifelong learning?

The panel emphasizes the importance of critical thinking as a lifelong skill, especially in the context of AI, where humans need to make choices about the information and arguments provided by AI.

How does the panel discuss the impact of AI on the labor market and job skills?

The panel discusses the impact of AI on the labor market in terms of how it can help validate skills and provide credentials for workers, as well as the need for AI to be taught in a way that is relevant to the labor market's demands.

What is the panel's opinion on the future of universities in relation to AI and technology?

The panel believes that while universities may not disappear, they will need to adapt and keep up with developments in technology and AI. Otherwise, they risk becoming outdated, and alternative models of education may emerge.

How does the panel view the role of AI in personalized learning?

The panel sees AI as a tool for personalized learning, but also emphasizes the importance of human interaction and autonomy in the learning process, suggesting that AI should complement rather than replace human-led education.

What ethical implications does the panel discuss regarding AI and lifelong learning?

The panel discusses ethical implications such as who defines learning pathways and the potential for large corporations to influence education through AI, as well as the responsibility of ensuring AI does not replace human empathy and social skills.

What is the panel's stance on the necessity of experiential learning in addition to AI-assisted learning?

The panel highlights the importance of experiential learning, stating that while AI can provide content and knowledge, it cannot replace the experience of learning through doing and the development of social skills.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Lifelong Learning and AI Integration

The script introduces a panel discussion moderated by an educator with 40 years of experience, emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning and its intersection with AI and technology. The moderator highlights the power of neuroplasticity and invites distinguished guests to introduce themselves and share their passions related to the topic. Among the guests are a director of digital strategy from an organization working in education and human rights, and a think tank leader focused on brain science applications. There is a shared interest in how technology can enhance lifelong learning and the potential challenges and benefits it presents.

05:02

🏛️ The Role of AI in Education and Lifelong Learning

This paragraph delves into the perspectives of various panelists on the role of AI in shaping education and lifelong learning. It includes the viewpoint of an executive from a customer service improvement platform who envisions AI companions for personalized lifelong learning. The discussion also touches on the importance of integrating AI into educational programs and the challenges faced by traditional institutions in adapting to new technologies. The panelists consider the social and personal implications of AI-driven education and the need to balance technology with human interaction and intrinsic motivation.

10:04

🤔 Critical Reflections on Lifelong Learning and AI

The panelists engage in a deeper discussion about the definition and elements of education that support lifelong learning. They critique the notion of self-motivation in learning, emphasizing the influence of social backgrounds and the importance of considering social aspects in educational models. The conversation also explores the idea of 'brain skills' and the need for cognitive and emotional development alongside physical education. The panelists share their insights on the challenges of personalization in education and the potential of AI to offer tailored learning experiences.

15:04

🌐 Global Perspectives on Lifelong Learning and AI

The discussion broadens to include global perspectives on lifelong learning, with a focus on the relevance of educational content to labor market needs and the importance of connectivity between education and industry. Panelists from different backgrounds, including a university rector and a tech company executive, share their views on the necessity for education to adapt to regional needs and the potential of AI to democratize learning opportunities. The conversation highlights the ethical implications of AI in defining learning pathways and the risk of market saturation in specialized skills.

20:10

🛠️ AI's Impact on Education and the Future of Universities

This section of the script discusses the impact of AI on education and contemplates the future role of universities. Panelists consider the necessity for universities to evolve with technological advancements and the potential for AI to offer scalable and personalized learning experiences. There is a debate on whether AI can replace human interaction and the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach to learning. The panel also addresses the ethical considerations of AI development and the influence of corporations on educational content and pathways.

25:12

🧐 The Human Element in AI-Enhanced Learning

The conversation turns to the importance of the human element in AI-enhanced learning. Panelists emphasize the need for experiential learning, social skills, and the development of empathy, which AI cannot fully replicate. They discuss the limitations of AI in certain learning areas and the potential risks of over-reliance on AI for social interaction. The panelists call for a balance between AI-assisted learning and direct human experiences, highlighting the irreplaceable value of human connection in education.

30:13

🏆 Lifelong Learning Achievements and AI's Role

In the final paragraph, the panelists reflect on the achievements of lifelong learning and the role AI can play in facilitating it. They consider AI as an enabler for personalized and timely learning experiences, emphasizing the importance of adapting educational content to meet immediate needs. The discussion concludes with a call for institutions, including universities, to embrace change and continue learning alongside individuals, highlighting the need for a dynamic and evolving approach to education in the age of AI.

Keywords

💡Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience. In the video, the concept is introduced to emphasize the potential for lifelong learning and how AI can interact with the brain's capacity to learn throughout a person's life. The educator highlights the excitement around the idea that learning is not confined to formal education but is an ongoing process that can be facilitated by understanding brain function.

💡Lifelong Learning

Lifelong learning is the continuous, self-motivated pursuit of knowledge and skills throughout an individual's life. It is a central theme in the video, with the panel discussing how this concept extends beyond formal education into personal, professional, and social development. The script mentions that lifelong learning fosters personal growth, enhances career prospects, and helps individuals stay relevant in the workforce.

💡Digital Strategy

Digital strategy, as mentioned by the panelist from OEI, involves the use of digital technologies to achieve organizational goals. In the context of the video, the director of digital strategy discusses the transformation of an analog organization to one that incorporates digital solutions, particularly in the realm of education and lifelong learning, to meet the demands of the modern world.

💡Think Tank

A think tank is an organization that conducts research and provides expert advice on various subjects. In the script, one of the panelists runs a think tank called Shar Brains, which focuses on brain science and its application in different contexts. The think tank's work is relevant to the video's theme as it explores how understanding the brain can improve lifelong learning opportunities.

💡Generative AI

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that can create new content, such as text, images, or music. In the video, the panelists discuss the potential of generative AI to improve customer service and sales, as well as its role in personalized lifelong learning. The concept is presented as a tool that could offer tailored educational support throughout an individual's life.

💡Personalization

Personalization in education means tailoring content, teaching methods, and learning experiences to meet the specific needs and interests of individual learners. The script discusses how AI can facilitate personalization by tracking a learner's progress and preferences over time, offering customized assistance and recommendations for courses or career paths.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information objectively. In the video, it is highlighted as an essential skill in the context of AI, where learners must discern the validity of information and arguments presented by AI systems. The panelists emphasize the importance of teaching students how to interact with AI critically.

💡Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is a method of education where learners are engaged in activities and experiences that allow them to acquire new skills and knowledge. The script mentions experiential learning as a productive way for adults to learn, suggesting that direct experience and interaction with the world are crucial for learning beyond what AI can provide.

💡Social Background

Social background refers to the environment and conditions in which an individual is raised, including factors such as family, culture, and socio-economic status. The script discusses how social background influences a person's access to education and their ability to engage in lifelong learning, highlighting the need to consider social aspects in educational strategies.

💡Relevance

In the context of the video, relevance pertains to the connection between the skills and knowledge gained through lifelong learning and their practical application in the labor market. The panelists debate the importance of ensuring that educational content is not only valuable but also recognized and sought after by employers, which is crucial for the return on investment in learning.

💡Autonomy

Autonomy in learning refers to the ability of learners to make their own choices about what and how to learn. The script discusses the importance of fostering autonomy in learners, suggesting that while AI can support and personalize education, it should not replace the need for learners to have control over their educational paths and choices.

Highlights

The power of neuroplasticity and its capacity to change the brain is emphasized, highlighting the exciting potential of lifelong learning and AI in education.

Introduction of Ismael Gomez, Director of Digital Strategy at OEI, discussing the organization's focus on education, science, culture, and human rights, and his interest in lifelong learning and technology.

Alvar Fernandez, CEO of Sharbrains, shares his passion for lifelong learning and the potential of brain science to improve people's lives in various contexts.

Andrea CEO and cofounder of Bers discusses the use of generative AI to improve customer service and sales, and the concept of an AI companion for personalized lifelong learning.

Anene Bort, Rector Magnificus of Atus University, speaks on the integration of technology in healthcare settings and the ethical considerations of emerging technologies in education.

The importance of critical thinking in the age of AI, as humans must make choices between arguments presented by AI, is discussed.

The need for education to teach students how to interact with AI, as it becomes an integral part of lifelong learning and professional development.

The role of AI in personalizing education and the potential for AI to track student progress and provide personalized guidance throughout their lives.

Discussion on the ethical implications of AI in defining learning pathways and the influence of large corporations on education and skill development.

The potential of AI to open up new channels and opportunities for education, such as making university knowledge more accessible and scalable.

The necessity for universities to adapt to technological developments, including AI, to remain relevant and effective in education.

The importance of experiential learning in adults and the role of AI in supplementing, rather than replacing, direct human experience and interaction.

Concerns about the concentration of commercial AI in the hands of a few companies and the potential impact on the direction of education and learning.

The need for a balance between AI assistance and human autonomy in education, emphasizing the importance of teachers and personal choice in learning.

The potential of AI to enable more immediate and relevant lifelong learning opportunities, catering to individual needs at the moment they arise.

Final thoughts on the importance of AI as an enabler for lifelong learning, but also the need for humans to excel at being human and to take control of their own learning goals.

Transcripts

educator of over 40 years I uh have

learned the power of neuroplasticity and

how it has the capacity to change the

brain so it gives me it's exciting to

talk about lifelong learning and uh and

see how the brain can be utilized in Ai

and uh lifelong learning it's my

pleasure to moderate this panel today

and we have very distinguished guests

around this table and thank you for

joining us uh and firstly I'd like to

ask them to introduce themselves and

then uh tell us in one sentence what

they are passionate about on this topic

so is mail you're to my right so I'll

ask you okay my name is is Gomez and I

work for

oei American states organization it's a

government organization we work we have

offices in 2 count

American region which includes all

mostly all Latin America and

Portugal it's Portuguese and Spanish

speaking cultures it's a really old

organization we this year we're turning

75 I've been working in oi only for like

nine months um and I'm the director of

digital strategy uh it was a very analog

organization it still is in many ways

because it's an organization that that

works in

and cooperation for development so we

have a we work in education higher

education science culture human rights

and I come from the from the private

sector from the digital education sector

so I'm very interested in lifelong

learning and because in especially in

the this aspects of what do you have to

do like there's a definition of lifelong

learning say something like an ongoing

activity forall activity allows you to

learn through through your life but that

lifelong like that thing as a purposeful

purpose and an ongoing activity

something that you will be able to do

all your life that is very interesting

to me especially uh in and how does it

relate to the new you know new

developments in technology and I find

that sometimes it's some of the new

Technology Solutions and some of the

narratives around AI can really Clash

against this this

objective well thank you alar so my name

is Alvar fernande I run a think tank

called Shar brains where we track apply

NE science basically it brain science

and how to apply it in different

contexts and I'm addicted to lifelong

learning so this is the panel and I see

so many opportunities to improve

people's lives just to apply you already

know of the brain and the mind so I

think it's super wonderful topic and the

angle of Life Learning or what I really

love

adults potential we have not to think

education ends when we end high school

or college is lifelong and we really

need to inspire people and to equip and

Empower people to keep learning all the

lives because that's the only way we

want to thrive in the stry that we have

now with more and more cognitive demands

and emotional demands from our lives so

it's a very

timely well thank you for telling us

that passion of

our

Andre

Andre CEO and confounder of bers we are

a what platform that helps large

companies improve their customer service

and

sales especially in retail sector we

have clients here in Spain like

mercadona alcampo kood this kind of of

large companies and um we we we are very

very obsessed to use the generative AI

to improve the relationship between

companies and their

clients and in the area of the education

and this this topic I think could be

perfect have an AI companion for all

your life that follow your steps during

your whole life from the beginning until

the end

I don't know but uh the idea is this

this companion will know everything

about you and will give you this really

really personalized help that we can

have because H it's very very cost uh

effective uh try to personalize in these

times the companies can do that

government can do that but probably Ai

and generative AI especially maybe Co is

Thea fabulous thank you I love that uh

idea about the companion through your

life that's a very interesting uh thing

maybe we can explore that a little bit

further yeah because I would have

questions about that indeed I'm I'm

imagining all kinds of how how that

would work for so great great Segway and

then you might like to introduce

yourself and tell us what you're

passionate about on this topic uh my

name is anene bort I'm uh reor

magnificus of atus University in rdam uh

it's a large Public University in the

Netherlands we have in

education uh but also a big branch of

executive post initial education

particularly at rdam School of

Management um I'm also or I was a a a a

professor in the ethics of emerging

Technologies um before I became a

full-time executive and I have a passion

of particularly in the healthcare

setting but also broader how Society an

organization uh struggle with

integrating uh technology uh in

particularly emerging technology into

how they work how they think um how they

communicate particularly I've been

working particularly in academic

Healthcare settings uh so how you

integrate this in healthcare settings

and how doctors make decisions how

patients deal with it and in my role as

a director I'm responsible for education

and we are and now I am struggling

myself with how to integrate AI into our

entire educational programs both in the

of how do we um uh offer AI to our

students particularly to our teachers

because the students know much more

about uh Ai and how to use for example

gen AI than our teachers do but also

more from the research SES uh what does

AI mean for humans um uh for discussions

about the well actually what we heard

this morning in the conference yeah so

that's that's actually my uh one of my

passions yeah thank you so much we have

such a diverse group here and with

different passions in this topic uh I

thought I would go to chat GTP to ask

what it thought lifelong learning was

and it tells me that lifelong learning

refers to the continuous and

self-motivated pursuit of Knowledge and

Skills throughout one's life it goes

beyond formal

education and extends into various

aspects of personal profession and

Social Development and the goal is to

Foster personal growth enhance career

prospects and stay relevant in the

workforce and enrich one's life overall

so

uh I looked at the world educa sorry

World economic Forum uh definition of uh

21st century skills and they're very

aligned with that so skills like

collaboration communication problem

solving

uh the and looking at the skills

required in social emotional learning

which are all out used right across our

LIF span of course outside formal

education so um my first so using that

as a basis of the uh definition of

lifelong learning uh I will ask my first

question which is what are the key

elements of

Education that you think will help the

lifelong learning of students

who would like to go

first okay oh thank you try okay I think

it the def the definition chpt gave you

of lifelong learning I'm just surprised

that he didn't say lifelong learning is

me yeah and it says it stresses all the

individual aspects like personal career

prospects and what about you know no

nobody's self motivated I mean we can be

self motivated but all our motivations

come from our social background people

we relate to

we have relationships with and it's not

something that comes from you like it's

something that's born from you and has

no relationship at with the world you

live in so your personal skills depend

on where you were born if you were

lacking enough to go to a good school

have a good teacher in your life or just

a family that supports you and career

prospects because we know that the

impact that your social background has

on that so there's no lifelong learning

if you're stressing just the self just

your your career prospects your skills

to to develop and you have a huge income

or enough income in in the future there

is some social aspects of Life Learning

which we can't uh do without and that we

we I think I don't think we're stressing

enough and I think some of the Nar I was

telling you right before we started the

table that some of the narratives around

AI they stress that I give you this

solution it's all you need and we're

forgetting that then we after we turn

off the computer if we ever do that we

or the smartphone we have to you know

interact with others and find solutions

to our problems or problems in our

community and we never do that by

ourselves I mean I I would say a quick

things one that we don't do this well

but we should maybe in the education

settings introduced same as many schools

have physical education we have have to

have the body in shape most explicit

maybe brain skills what are the specific

cognitive and emotional executive

functions that are going to help that

Student First do very well in the school

setting but be prepared for lifelong

learning because it's not just about

content transfer it's not about

memorized things but how to really equip

and I don't think many schools are doing

that and other thing not talking

education K12 but I think many

universities for example I'm sure in

Europe in the US where I've been for a

long time there's more and more lifelong

learning institutes where people go to

take classes just for fun I don't want a

credential I just want to learn how to

take photography or was the relationship

the history between Japan and China and

I've been teaching myself as a professor

of people over 50 and it's fascinating

to teach people who go there just

because they want to learn for the

intrinsic mtiv one for learn so I not

sure I would love to know if rdam you

have S live institutes or in Europe

that's a common vehicle because I think

that would be a massive opportunity to

engage people older than 30 or

40 yeah we have we have actually it's

it's interesting because um in in the

Netherlands we don't have we only have I

think one private university so our

higher education system is completely

public publicly funded uh but within

some of the publicly funded

universities University we have a a huge

like commercial uh part which is like in

the the uh which is a BV and attracts

completely different uh group of

students particularly people who want to

get an Executive

MBA uh or learn particularly social

science and Humanity skills they did

some they have like they did like an

engineering uh or a math uh study and

now they have executive roles in company

and then they they come to us I think

that's the uh that's one of the

University examples of lifelong learning

and I think it's very successful uh and

I think it's a very traditional example

of lifelong learning the only difficulty

with this is that it's uh that it's

expensive and if you say we also are a

Civic University we want to make impact

also for people working in

municipalities or maybe um public

organizations that cannot pay an

Executive MBA there uh we are thinking

about offering other kinds of programs

um that are also short modules but way

less expensive than the executive uh

parts and there I think AI can be

helpful because what makes it expensive

it's that it's very uh uh teaching and

staff

intensive um and that it's a group gr

intensive but you can organize this

differently and I think that's important

for many reasons particularly to to be

more useful as a university to be more

democratic and to offer also your

programs to uh the entire Workforce yeah

but the huge difficulties I was in an

earlier session here the the president's

Round Table uh one of our biggest

challenges is we have a huge shortage of

teaching stuff and we have about um one

teacher for 25

students um so that's that's well

actually and then I know that at primary

secondary schools it's even more

challenging uh but that's a huge problem

personalization yeah so the the with

personalization um um maybe with some

flipped classroom Concepts where some of

the automatization doesn't have to be

done by a human teacher then hopefully

it it will be better yeah we can offer

it to a much

part of the

workforce leis we'll correct yes we'll

bring you into the conversation um we

were talking about uh the key elements

of Education that will help in your

opinion the lifelong learning of

students yeah first of all sorry for

meting was in the

interview

uh so uh at least for for for our

perspective right now is I think the

relevance of the of the content of the

LI learning weite from our perspective

is we understand the

huge potential that has this idea of

lium learning and I'm from Mexico so

there also Li Ling has uh I don't know

it's kind of a dep it's more like a hope

in terms of the capacity to develop

specific skills or to validate some of

the skills that already the workers have

in terms of of give some credentials to

to them to increase their income level

right so one of the main question that

or one of the key elements is how

relevant is this information or is this

skills or is this training for them is

going to be able to be connect very

quick to the labor market is the labor

market uh considering that this is

valuable for them or is more like a

traditional perspective of the

University that is inside of them and

elating and designing all these

beautiful programs that industry doesn't

care uh at University probably u a

program a traditional PR University

engineer something like that reallya you

could pay that L that luxury but in

terms ofing skills that you're supposed

to continue your education you are going

to invest because normally the people

people who apply for an NBA Executive

MBA is from their own money so they are

going to pay for that and they're going

to rise their own labor and they have to

receive um return of investment very

really quick from that perspective at at

least from our context and understanding

so it's relevance and the capacity to

has to be a return of investment from

that perspective when you are

participating of one of these programs

you must have a massive alni Network

right thousands tens of thousands how do

you what do you offer some live on learn

opportunities to those Al because that's

a huge opportunity that universities are

exploiting yeah we have two

different from St right system we have

two main type of University in some way

one is technological mon which is more

like I don't know to say traditional uh

model because we are we change our

educational model to be a competencies

model all the education and the other

one is TE Millennium te Millennium is

for other type of um students who it's

more oriented to to connect direct with

the with the world uh with the labor

market one of the main problems is we

are um I'm going to provide a lot of

cont we are a multi campus so we have

presence in all Mexico and if you know

Mexico Mexico is not very etog it's not

very homogeneous is more erogenous so

basically the needs from the south is

very different from the needs from the

north from the needs from the west but

when we Design This

programs we get used to it to design a

very traditional framework to all of

them and say okay you going to use that

so right now we are I'm not going to say

struggle but we are looking the best way

to adapt our content to the needs of the

different context in which we are

otherwise we are going to uh lose our

capacity to provide impact and value to

our Learners in our both um schemes the

more um highly educated and te which is

more oriented to other type of student

Le

thank you Andreas did you want to chime

into that topic of how um education is

helping lifelong Learners yes I think

um there are a new new skill a

new knowledge that education has to

provide to the students that is how to

interact with

AI this is a new thing this is new for

everyone

and um the point about this is very

important because one of the big problem

is that we don't know exactly how to

interact we are learning about how to

take all this power of the AI and

specific the generative Ai and um it's

so hard give CH to students and later

say that they have to use the critical

thinking

and give all the knowledge in one

sentence

and I'm going to think if thing for me

then what is my brain what is my thought

what I'm going to do yeah but this is

this is one important part of the this

new part of that we have to change

school has to teach people student how

to use

the the AI then uh this I don't know we

all know Can Can Academy yeah Can

Academy launch a program in AI that is

can Amigo or can cigo or something like

that and and one of the problems that

they found was the students

can't talk properly with the AI

they they don't know how to do it yes

then it's it's the same problem all

about this prom team engineer on these

kind of things that people are are

learning is we we need to know again how

to relate how to have this relationship

with the technology and I think this is

the most important part of this new way

to interact for the rest of your life

with this probably AI companion but

knowing how to do

I think you bring up a couple of good

points there one will segue into um my

next question but you brought up a that

critical thinking aspect and earlier

today in one of the forums uh there was

a discussion around critical thinking

because uh AI can give us points of an

points of an argument both sides of an

argument uh two opinions but the human

has to make the choice about which side

of the the Which choice they want to

make and that's where the critical

thinking skill comes in uh which is

obviously one of those lifelong skills

I'm going to uh just segue from what you

were saying about students not uh being

able to interact with AI not ask the

right questions because my next question

was how uh has AI impacted education on

the Quest for lifelong learning so it's

slightly different than what you saying

that that impact of well uh AI has

impacted education now they the students

don't know what questions to us so maybe

I'll go back to you with that and then

I'll my point and our point in this in

this business that is virtual assistant

with AI yes is try to have this this

personalization this this knowledge

about you about your your skills and

your progress and track this for all the

all your life and give it can you

imagine that I don't know three years of

of knowledge or interaction with an AI

will give you what what what will be

your best H career to choose or best

next course to take I don't know cetta

cetta is doing something like that with

AI yeah all this knowledge and I do

lingo is doing the same language these

kind of things and it could be great

that we can um okay I have a kid now

40 years old is we have to decide if we

go for Lang language or maths or

something like that and

why why

why at this time or I don't know all

this time in the school they they have

to

know come on you have all the TR record

all the exams all the I don't know

skills that might keep then why we don't

use this all this AI to help with this

decision for example then this is our

point in this part is knowledge data and

use it in a personalized way yeah with

this companion great who would who else

would like to jump in here yeah yes

and we we was discuss this um having

this discussion related with what happen

is University doesn't exist the future

right

business like noninvasive

surgery want to make yourself sub

yeah this is

kind the thing is who's going to be in

charge of creating all this knowledge

first

second who is going to Define what is

this Pathways that you're supposed to

take if is the AI then who are teaching

the AI what is the pathways that you're

supposed to follow and what is the main

um contrast to put it in some way and

then is these big companies this big

Corporation having a big influence on

that perspective because corser say Okay

Microsoft what do you need uh what do

you need I can try I can

force not force necessary but tend to

move some people to have special

specific skills and then it's at the

beginning it's like yeah you going to

have a lot of jobs fulfilled jobs but

then what happen when there is more

people with these specific skills then

the market the labor market is going to

go down so there is a lot of ethical

implication in all this perspective

about how how we're going to use that

from that perspective and it's more

critical if the learner doesn't have any

idea that is that that is already

happening in terms of who is defining

your pathway who is defining what is

your next step and I remember I write

some article very simple article related

to the eal of chbt or artificial

intelligence so I asked chbt what is

your um moral system framework well I

don't have any moral system framework I

just use based on the information you

provide me I provide you information I

assume that you know what if my

information is correct or

not that's because at the end of the a

huge disclaimer from the own AI to say

okay it's your problem yeah I just

repeat what I

found but it's not totally in that way

because because open I use in this case

human race for learning learning that is

people saying don't say that don't say

that don't say that don't say that don't

say

that yeah I don't believe that

universities will disappear I don't

believe that universities are centuries

old but I I am convinced that the the

future of Education will change and that

there will be other models next to or

competing with universities and uh but

in the end the function of universities

is also particularly in the initial

education not the lifelong but the 18

years old students who come in uh find a

group of friends find their

communities uh universities have some

kind of

trustworthiness and they have

accreditation so if you could go to a

certain top 100 or two top 200

University it's also what the quality of

the the logo and the university you are

studying um but I I am convinced that if

universities do not change and keep up

to Pace with developments in technology

and and AI is I think the most important

example then many of the universities

and also of the task uh will become

old-fashioned and I I also think we will

shrink as University so but yeah I'm

quite convinced that university has a

concept uh will stay strong

yeah in fact I don't think will shrink I

think that will expand the question is

maybe they will use AI right now I would

love to go to your website uh you have

all these professors and students

Collective wisdom and knowledge but I

cannot access that but maybe you will

have trained some GPT rdam I can go to

your website and ask hey what does have

to say about any topic or monay right

and I and that way many people have

access directly to that knowledge uh for

free scalable or you charge something

and then whoever wants the socialization

and the credential then goes to the

university but I think he opens lot of

channels lot of opportunities it's an

example of open science correct that

even reacts response to I think it's an

interesting sorry you jump in that that

and also is

we need to to reink I to reink or to

redefine or the role of the

univers and I I think it's going to be a

I don't know it's an opportunity or it's

a consequence that is going to create

this gap between those University who is

like you mentioned 200 400 years that is

very concerned about the knowledge they

are Crea and the other one who is just

rep repeating some knowledge that

doesn't so we probably create

that knowledge production is I mean AI

has technology in general has changed

education has been doing it so for like

my experience my professional experience

when I started working in education I

mean in the tech sector was like 20

years ago and I saw how it Chang

everything and and not only that all of

a sudden it was like tech companies

started to see how interest in the

education Market because they were not

paying that much attention 20 years ago

of course there were some educational

products I remember digital learning was

on in the hands of a few companies with

a really really primitive platforms and

scorm seems seem like science fiction

but now this is like a growing Market

everybody wants to know what they will

need for the future you have a job and

it's changed ucation in many amazing new

great ways and AI I think first of all

you were talking about personalized

learning you can I don't think you can

really defend a personalized learning at

the same time let the system decide for

me you you have to want I mean you

really need to okay defend your right

for personalized learning at the same

time you need autonomy to make your own

choices and yeah the system does the

system know me better than me then then

what have I learned basically nothing I

can repeat a lot of things but I don't

know anything if I can make my own

choices and I was say I was mentioning

some how some narratives around AI they

basically tell you this is all you need

that's why I was you know joking about

how chpd was saying LIF long learning me

is keep using it keep coming back and

interaction with a is changing because

companies the people get used to

something is I need the next new thing

so I would you know and that's why some

they're implementing some some tools

some you know some ways to approach the

customer so that it keeps coming back

for example I remember this version of

chat GPT Chinese GPT that was um you

know I can be your like all your older

sister I can talk to you like that

brother that you know especially in

China that brother you don't have and so

this there's this kind of emotional like

I wouldn't say black man but the

manipulation so some of the way do we

interact how are we learning how to

interact with AI and in in in terms of

Education we need the opposite we need

to give people as much autonomy as they

can

handle and there are some uses of AI

that are really productive in that and

especially if you I don't think that

there is a technology that's going to

solve all your education problems but

there are approaches like methodologies

where people especially teachers whose

importance I think is is bigger than

ever to accompany people I don't think

it's going to be like a a product or a

company that's going to sell a solution

to the family so you can skip the

importance of of the teacher you need to

stress how important the comparment that

that those teachers are doing and the

technology is there just to help the

helping for example just free up some

time for the for the teacher so he has

more time to observe and be able to

assess teacher how to assess the the new

skills that student needs has to change

yeah so um on that then uh looking at

the impact of Ai and education is that

the future is that where education

should be focused now

ai uh well you were saying more than AI

right you were saying what the role of

uh what the teacher now is able to do

and what students can access there and

thinking about the lifelong learning

aspect of this actually it may be

outside of school and outside of

University so

um what is that impact if you were

talking about you were saying that the

lifelong learning means this has a

purposeful you know there's um activity

to learn through your whole during your

whole

life AI is not going to give you purpose

if AI if you rely on AI to have purpose

in your life you're screw yeah I mean

let's face it because AI is going to be

I mean right now there is like the

commercial AI is Concentra in in the

hands of three four huge companies which

are growing and they're telling us I'm

you need again and there you have other

non-commercial AIS not long ago I was

talking to M both from

mon from the Mexican Society of AI and

we're talking about you know they need

they feel like nobody's listening to

them anymore because they are not

competitive in the you know their

private AI sector because they don't

have the the money that they need to

invest in this huge mega computation

like this Mega trillions of of matrixes

of parameters sorry and so there is like

seriously they if if we're going to rely

on three or four huge companies and

they're buying buying all the startups

you have the startup start gets uh in

the first round maybe1 billion dollars

mostly from you know Saudi Arabia Qatar

Dubai those are buy those are put money

for those startups and then you just

think that Civil Society will just allow

this AI companies to you tell us where

we we should be heading as say is maybe

we should think twice and I'm just

saying

that uh we have a few more minutes and

so I'm going to ask anyone who is

listening to this uh conversation today

if you have any

questions I have a question sure so when

I came to the panel I was thinking about

the opposite of its title I was thinking

what kind of lifelong learning is worth

doing without AI so I thought maybe you

all experts can just thank you thank you

it's a great

question without without

AI I'll just give you a softball um I am

an educator and I find experiential

learning to be the most productive with

adults so adult learn by doing and it

allows them to get outside of their

comfort zone and try something new and

have childlike Wonder with

learning I mean a lot of skills

acquisition is not going to be based on

AI right you're are not going to ask AI

help me ride the bike no way so a lot of

declarative a lot of content yes can be

very useful but still I think there will

be a lot of role for experiential on all

millions of skills that I think I mean

AI can be very beneficial but still

there sort of role for non AI direct

experience or all

social skills AI can help with that

indeed is one of the risk that you spend

all time talking with

yourself with with a with a Ai and don't

interact with other people this is a

huge problem or if you use H soon the

Apple Vision Pro and you could merge and

spend one day without talk with anyone

it it could be a

dangerous H problem but all social has

to be reinforced all you have to come

here get information and then share this

with other kids other co-workers other

this kind of things I think the

universities have to do that with this

and with the society and with the

government I think and and I think that

there is a very interesting question

because probably we we could split the L

learning in terms of what is the main

I'm not going to say the purpose but

what is the result of your taking a

specific course if if there is a course

related to some application in real life

then probably AI could provide the the

content the knowledge but it's not going

to teach you how to write a Bible you

have to to have to First Step buy a bike

oh I don't have a bike so you're screw

um so there is I think there is going to

be some lifelong learning perspective

that is going to have this um validation

from there I want to put it in a in a

very simple way from the real war and

labor market sof kill Etc that need to

be developed and from that perspective I

think AI is not going to be able to go

there yet let's see um and and and the

other one is what is the limitation of

AI in terms of developing a specifical

specifical skills for example you

mention right now this idea of something

related with empathy we are conducting

right right now a project in which we

are testing what level of human

interaction with Joe learner with uh

from

lowincome communities that is going to

learn some empathy so soft skills so

basically we are testing if the Jud

learn more from just ai ai plus human or

just human because that is a big

question for us and right now we are

saying from our perspective is please

human mean this

because we need you because you develop

better skills in terms of empathy wow

that is going to be

something Prof very deep in terms of

where we

understand it's a great place to finish

our conversation uh one sentence each

and then we'll wrap up well I think in

in terms of Education I think AI makes

it even more important that we have

expertise with people who know about DC

uh pedagogical approaches and

educational Sciences because in the end

it's not whether or not to use AI but

what what are your intended learning

outcomes and what kind of program uh do

you need for those intended learning

outcomes and then you can use it with

some kind of AI but it could be done in

another way so I think that should

always be the goal what are my intended

learning outcomes

fabulous this rub up

that was

great I think as as

um in in in our way of see the ai ai

won't replace replace people yeah is not

the

idea Ai and generative AI

will replace task a specific specific

task and in education it will be uh um a

complement of the

real

people interact with with other people

and plus AI this is the right

combination for us fabulous thank you um

I think for me is we need to lifelong

learning uh achieve their promise for

all the work and I think AI could be or

should be this enabl to achieve this Pro

promise that life of learning is there

thank you helar I think it opens a

massive opportunity for one word that in

fact the new director of ucgc said

yesterday ector I'm not sure you know

him he said the role of university is to

be relevant so I think with AI we can

allow much more in the moment uh

lifelong learning when you need it for

that moment in way that until now were

impossible because I don't have time to

do one year NBA in Ram but if I need

some right now and I have my personal AI

assistant is going to open the world of

opportunity and knowledge great positive

way to finish and one last comment I was

thinking uh you know talking about human

replacement with AI and I was like is AI

getting that that good that we can you

know rely on it for empathy or our goals

and I

remember you know when people were

saying oh the algorithms in for example

Facebook or

Instagram are getting so much better

they're getting almost like humanik no

we they're they're silly the thing is we

humans have an amazing capacity to to

adapt to any environment and if we find

that you know you post a picture with a

very

thoughtful uh food saying you know

talking about climate change whatever it

doesn't understand it so it doesn't

promote it as much as if you're just

happy face and saying H I feel great

about myself they promote something very

simple that they that the machine can

understand and we adapt to that we need

success in those in that technologically

based social platforms so we adapt and

we sometimes we just turn more stupid so

let's instead of thinking r on just

thinking AI is going to replace us just

okay that you just should use that as an

excuse to get better at being human in

the regard of you know what I mean is me

more more intelligent just H take

control of your own yeah your own goals

and just learn and not only I mean we

should expect not just people to uh

pursue lifelong learning also

institutions universities uh high

schools and education system that labor

market learns a lot and that's very fast

but uh we should also expect that from

when we take our kids to University or

when we go to university I expect the

university to change also to learn and

change with time

thank you very much everyone thank you

very much for this conversation thank

you