Thanks, Marc. This is a must read for educators interested in how GenAI is currently impacting education right now - as always, I am interested in how this will filter down to considerations at the high school level. Do you know of anyone doing equivalent work in 9-12?
This simply isn’t true: “Indeed, while some of the most creative and invigorating writing about AI comes from AI skeptics, their predictions about impending limitations have thus far been proven wrong.”
Ten years ago, I made a prediction about the ability of computers to automate parts of human communication, including the limits of that capacity. And nothing has proven my initial prediction wrong.
If you are interested in my point of view, I would be happy to speak with you. I must warn you that I have a gargantuan (and, given the circumstances, justifiable) chip on my shoulder regarding this issue. I think there a massive blindspot here. And I think it is very consequential to the future of writing pedagogy, the humanities, AI, the whole thing.
Here's an article about higher ed's first known use case chatbot. I developed it a few years ago for my Infonomics MBA course at University of Illinois. It is now in its third iteration:
What if students could learn about data strategy by interacting with a chatbot, just like they would with a mentor or industry expert?
That's exactly what Gies College of Business professor Douglas Laney, a world-renowned expert on the field of infonomics, set out to create. He built Cleo, an AI-powered learning tool that helps students learn about data strategy and business analytics in the real world. Now, that innovation is earning international recognition; Laney's project is a finalist for "Most Innovative Use of AI" at the DataIQ Awards Americas, selected from more than 400 entries. The DataIQ Awards honor both companies and individuals that have demonstrated excellence in the data and AI industry.
Gies College of Business is at the forefront of AI-driven innovation in business education, leveraging emerging technologies to give students a hands-on approach to data-driven decision making. Laney's chatbot is reported to be one of the first AI-driven interactive use cases in higher education, offering a new way for students to explore the complexities of the data economy.
Thanks, Marc. This is a must read for educators interested in how GenAI is currently impacting education right now - as always, I am interested in how this will filter down to considerations at the high school level. Do you know of anyone doing equivalent work in 9-12?
This simply isn’t true: “Indeed, while some of the most creative and invigorating writing about AI comes from AI skeptics, their predictions about impending limitations have thus far been proven wrong.”
Ten years ago, I made a prediction about the ability of computers to automate parts of human communication, including the limits of that capacity. And nothing has proven my initial prediction wrong.
If you are interested in my point of view, I would be happy to speak with you. I must warn you that I have a gargantuan (and, given the circumstances, justifiable) chip on my shoulder regarding this issue. I think there a massive blindspot here. And I think it is very consequential to the future of writing pedagogy, the humanities, AI, the whole thing.
Congrats!
Here's an article about higher ed's first known use case chatbot. I developed it a few years ago for my Infonomics MBA course at University of Illinois. It is now in its third iteration:
"How a Gies Business chatbot is transforming learning and winning awards" https://gies.illinois.edu/news/2025/04/10/how-a-gies-business-chatbot-is-transforming-learning-and-winning-awards
What if students could learn about data strategy by interacting with a chatbot, just like they would with a mentor or industry expert?
That's exactly what Gies College of Business professor Douglas Laney, a world-renowned expert on the field of infonomics, set out to create. He built Cleo, an AI-powered learning tool that helps students learn about data strategy and business analytics in the real world. Now, that innovation is earning international recognition; Laney's project is a finalist for "Most Innovative Use of AI" at the DataIQ Awards Americas, selected from more than 400 entries. The DataIQ Awards honor both companies and individuals that have demonstrated excellence in the data and AI industry.
Gies College of Business is at the forefront of AI-driven innovation in business education, leveraging emerging technologies to give students a hands-on approach to data-driven decision making. Laney's chatbot is reported to be one of the first AI-driven interactive use cases in higher education, offering a new way for students to explore the complexities of the data economy.
https://gies.illinois.edu/news/2025/04/10/how-a-gies-business-chatbot-is-transforming-learning-and-winning-awards
[see link to continue reading the article]