AI as a companion to human learning

What an amazing session during the Festival of Education.

In a session titled AI as a Companion to Human Learning, Pascal Mariany explored a theme that feels more urgent with each passing week: how we can use AI to deepen learning, rather than inadvertently replacing the thinking on which learning actually depends.

And yes, there is a certain irony in that.

Critical thinking in this age of AI can, in fact, also be supported by AI itself—but only if we design its use carefully. Not as an answer machine. Not as a shortcut. Not as a productivity layer that allows learners to skip the hard part.

But as a companion that helps students to ask questions, create structure, reflect, create, and make their thinking visible.

That requires more than just access to tools. It calls for didactic choices, good examples, shared language, safe infrastructure, and practical best practices. During the session, I shared some of these examples from our work with CivAI and EduGPT, both in schools and in higher education.

Many thanks to the organisers for creating such a meaningful space for this conversation, and to Valentina Devid for the invitation and warm guidance.

And of course, thanks for the beautiful location. That always helps the thinking along a little.

For those interested: I have shared the presentation as a PDF on my Onderwijs Orakel blog.