Ezra Klein and Rebecca Winthrop recently sparked a thoughtful debate on Klein’s New York Times podcast, examining how AI is quietly transforming education. Their chat invites you to see beyond traditional tasks—when generative AI can summarise texts, tackle math problems, and even draft essays, it’s natural to ask: what should students really be learning?
Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, makes a compelling point. She reminds us that if AI can handle these routine tasks, educators must rethink the core objectives of schooling. Instead of clinging to outdated assignments, we might focus more on equipping students with skills that foster creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability in an unpredictable world.
This discussion hits home for anyone wrestling with the impacts of technology in education. It encourages a re-evaluation of established methods and highlights the need for a balanced approach—one where technology works for us without sidelining the human touch in learning.
