Colloquium Duncan Brumby: How Generative AI is Reshaping Education

On Thursday 24 April, the department of Experimental Psychology and the Human-centered Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group Social and Cognitive AI are organising a colloquium with Duncan Brumby (University College London). Brumby will discuss how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping education and raising questions about learning and assessment.

Generative AI in education

Universities sit at the heart of this debate as credentialing systems that evaluate students’ work and shape their future careers. But what happens when AI changes how students engage with their work?

Brumby explores how to engage with AI critically and ethically, ensuring it enhances rather than replaces human intelligence. He also offers practical strategies for integrating AI to amplify creativity, enhance originality, and produce more meaningful work.

AI is not just transforming how students learn—it is forcing us to rethink assessment, critical thinking, originality, and authorship. Instead of blindly relying on AI, we must develop AI literacy, preserve our own voice, and resist the ‘speed trap’ of producing generic and sometimes inaccurate content.

Education shapes values, ethics, and intellectual standards. Universities play a crucial role in this, defining academic integrity and setting benchmarks for responsible AI use. Rather than merely adapting, they must ensure that critical thinking, deep learning, and originality remain central. Education must equip the next generation for an AI-powered future because the best opportunities won’t go to AI itself, but to those who know how to use it well.

About Duncan Brumby

Duncan Brumby studies how digital tools shape human behaviour, focusing on two of today’s most pressing challenges: the pervasive impact of smartphone use and the transformative role of generative AI. His research bridges academia and practice, translating insights into real-world impact. Recognised with Best Paper Awards at two conferences, his contributions span over 100 publications and are highly cited.

He holds a senior educational leadership role in the Faculty of Brain Sciences at University College London and is an ACM Distinguished Speaker, delivering keynotes to leading academic and industry groups. As Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies (IJHCS), he oversees research that advances human-centered technology design. He frequently contributes to media and public discussions on technology and its societal impact.