AI in Education: Conversations That Shape Tomorrow

In this episode, Becci Peters and Ben Davies discuss their work with Computing at School (CAS), an initiative backed by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, which boasts 27,000 dedicated members who support computing teachers. Through their efforts with CAS, they've noticed that many teachers still feel uncomfortable about AI technology, and many schools are grappling with uncertainty around AI policies and how to implement them. There's also a noticeable digital divide based on differing school budgets for AI tools. Keeping these challenges in mind, their efforts don’t just focus on technical skills; they aim to help more teachers grasp AI principles and understand important ethical considerations like data bias and the limitations of training models. They also work to equip educators with a critical mindset, enabling them to make informed decisions about AI usage.

In this episode, four members of our Student Council, Conrado, Kerem, Felicitas and Victoria, who are between 17 and 20 years old, share their personal experiences and observations about using generative AI, both for themselves and their peers. They also talk about why it’s so crucial for teachers to confront and familiarize themselves with this new technology.

AI’s impact spans globally across sectors, yet attention and voices aren’t equally distributed across impacted communities. This week, the Foundational Impact presents a humanitarian perspective as Daniel Emmerson speaks with Suzy Madigan, Responsible AI Lead at CARE International, to shine a light on those often left out of the AI narrative. The heart of their discussion centers on “AI and the Global South, Exploring the Role of Civil Society in AI Decision-Making”, a recent report that Suzy co-authored with Accentures, a multinational tech company. They discuss how critical challenges including digital infrastructure gaps, data representation, and ethical frameworks, perpetuate existing inequalities. Increasing civil society participation in AI governance has become more important than ever to ensure an inclusive and ethical AI development.

In this episode, Liz opens up about her path and reflects on her own "conscious incompetence" with AI - that pivotal moment when she understood that if she, as a leader of a forward-thinking trust, feels overwhelmed by AI's implications, many other school leaders must feel the same. Rather than shying away from this challenge, she chose to lean in, launching an exciting new initiative to help school leaders navigate the AI landscape.

In this episode, Hult Prize CEO Lori van Dam pulls back the curtain on the global competition empowering student innovators into social entrepreneurs across 100+ countries. She believes in sustainable models that combine social good with financial viability. Lori also explores how AI is becoming a powerful ally in this space, while stressing that human creativity and cross-cultural collaboration remain at the heart of meaningful innovation.

From decoding languages to decoding the future of education: Laura Knight takes us on her fascinating journey from a linguist to a computer science teacher, then Director of Digital Learning, and now a consultant specialising in digital strategy in education. With two decades of classroom wisdom under her belt, Laura has witnessed firsthand how AI is reshaping education and she’s here to help make sense of it all.

Richard Culatta, former Government advisor, speaks about flying planes as an analogy to explain the perils of taking a haphazard approach to AI in education. Using aviation as an illustration, he highlights the most critical tech skills that teachers need today. The CEO of ISTE and ASCD draws a clear parallel: just as planes don't fly by magic, educators must deeply understand AI's capabilities and limitations.

Professor Anselmo Reyes, an international arbitrator and legal expert, discusses the potential of AI in making legal services more accessible to underserved communities. He notes that while AI works well for standardised legal matters, it faces limitations in areas requiring emotional intelligence or complex human judgment. Prof Reyes advocates for teaching law students to use AI critically as an assistive tool, emphasising that human oversight remains essential in legal decision making.

Healthcare and technology leader Esen Tümer discusses how AI and emerging trends in technology are transforming medical settings and doctor-patient interactions. She encourages teachers not to shy away from technology, but rather understand how it’s reshaping society and prepare their students for this tech-enabled future.