Foundational Impact

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. 

Good Future Foundation

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Summary

Think about how overwhelming it could be if you're driving at 70 miles per hour but have to rebuild the car as a whole. This is how Liz Robinson, CEO of Big Education Trust, describes her feeling as she started to realise the impact of AI in every aspect of education while managing daily school operations.

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.

Good Future Foundation

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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 showcases how young minds are tackling world challenges through creative solutions - like turning Hong Kong’s wasted bread into beer, and supporting indigenous Mexican communities through mindful tourism. 

Beyond the headline-grabbing $1 million prize, Lori shares a deeper story about reimagining education and social impact. She brings to light how donor-reliant nonprofits are often constrained by narrow focuses on expense ratios rather than actual impact and 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.

Good Future Foundation

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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.

Remember when AI discussions were all doom and gloom or over-the-top enthusiasm? Laura breaks down how these conversations have matured into something far more practical and nuanced. She’s adamant that schools shouldn’t just jump on the AI bandwagon because everyone else is. Instead, she advocates for thoughtful adoption that considers each school’s unique context and needs. It’s this practical, grounded perspective that makes her newly published book “Little Guide for Teachers on Generative AI” particularly exciting for educators looking for real world guidance.

Good Future Foundation

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Summary

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 and author of "Digital for Good" draws a clear parallel: just as planes don't fly by magic, educators must deeply understand AI's capabilities and limitations.

Key Takeaways

• Richard breaks down three distinct approaches teachers take toward AI: those hoping it will disappear (which it won't), those using it merely as a glorified search engine, and those embracing a fundamental redesign of education for an AI-infused world.
• He emphasises that teachers should understand AI isn't magic and should focus on identifying uniquely human skills versus tasks better suited for AI. Rather than banning technology, he advocates for developing digital citizenship and promoting responsible technology use.
• Richard highlights that technology skills are now critical across all career paths, even in creative fields like music. He stresses that using technology for effective problem-solving has become an essential skill for students to master.
• He encourages educators to join professional communities like ISTE and ASCD Connect to continue learning about AI and technology, while adopting innovative approaches to technology integration.

Good Future Foundation

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Summary

Professor Anselmo Reyes, an international arbitrator and legal expert, discusses the potential of AI in making legal services more accessible to underserved communities and identifies the kinds of legal cases where AI could be most beneficial. He notes that while AI works well for standardised legal matters like commercial cases and contract disputes, 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. 

Takeaways

• Prof Reyes sees AI as a promising tool to make legal services more affordable and accessible to those who currently cannot afford traditional legal representation. 
• However, he recognises a significant challenge which AI decisions can be skewed by biases in their training data, which often only become apparent after patterns emerge over time. 
• Prof Reyes identifies that AI applications might work better in standardised, rule-based legal areas such as commercial cases, contract disputes, and small claims tribunal decisions. 
• He observes that AI systems have limitations when it comes to nuanced fact-finding, particularly in cases with conflicting personal testimonies. This makes them less suitable for sensitive areas like family law and cases requiring emotional intelligence or complex human judgement. 
• When it comes to legal education, Prof Reyes suggested a balanced approach. Rather than banning AI, he believes in teaching students to use it critically as an assistive tool, not a replacement for human legal reasoning. 
• He emphasises that as this evolving technology continues to develop, maintaining strong human oversight and careful risk mitigation remains essential.

Good Future Foundation

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Summary

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. 

Key takeaways:

• Esen explains AI simply reflects our past choices and societal history rather than making truly independent decisions. This underscores our collective responsibility in shaping AI’s behaviour and the importance of teaching students to make conscious and ethical choices. 
• She emphasises that AI shouldn’t be seen as a standalone technology, but as part of a future where multiple technologies like AR, VR and metaverse will seamlessly integrate into our daily lives, becoming as essential as electricity and the internet are today. 
• She points out that while AI can handle repetitive tasks, it cannot replicate human compassion, emotional intelligence, or spiritual understanding. Technology, she stresses, should serve humanity, and not the other way round.

Good Future Foundation

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Summary

A forward-thinking educational trust shows what's possible when AI meets strategic implementation. From personalised learning platforms to innovative administrative solutions, Julie Carson, Director of Education at Woodland Academy Trust, reveals how they're enhancing teaching and learning across five primary schools through technology and AI to serve both classroom and operational needs. 

Key Takeaways

• Julie talks about adaptive learning platforms for reading and maths to real-time translation for EAL students and support for lesson planning and resource creation
• Some helpful advice here on using AI to support administrative functions like creating newsletters, analysing data, and job advertising
• Julie shares her strategy for successful digital transformation and obtaining insights on managing change without overwhelming staff

Good Future Foundation

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Summary

In this conversation, Joseph Lin, an education technology consultant, discusses how some Hong Kong schools are exploring artificial intelligence and their implementation challenges. He emphasises the importance of data ownership, responsible use of AI, and the need for schools to adapt slowly to these technologies. Joseph also shares some successful AI implementation cases and how some of the AI tools may enhance creative learning experiences. 

Takeaways

• Access barriers and technical problems continue to be significant challenges in using AI in classrooms, taking up valuable teaching time and complicating implementation.
• Self-hosted AI platforms provide schools with better control over data privacy and management, while also avoiding issues that come with commercial platforms. 
• Schools should prioritise giving teachers enough time to explore and understand AI capabilities before student rollout, allowing for appropriate changes to the curriculum. 
• A thoughtful and systematic approach to incorporating AI is essential, keeping in mind established educational practices and assessment. 
• Schools need to tackle issues related to equity, logistics, finances, and pedagogical considerations while collecting usage data to guide future AI implementation decisions.

Good Future Foundation

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Summary

Sarah Brook, CEO of Sparkle, discusses the day-to-day operations of running a nonprofit organisation and the challenges they face. She emphasises the importance of educating people about the true costs of running a charity and the need for proper funding to deliver the best results. Sarah also talks about the need for a shift in the narrative of the charity sector, moving away from donor dependency and focusing on sustainable solutions. She highlights the importance of community involvement and mutual benefit in their programs. Sarah also discusses the role of AI and technology in improving efficiency and scalability in the nonprofit sector.

Takeaways

• Running a nonprofit organisation requires proper funding to deliver the best results.
• Educating people about the true costs of running a charity is essential to change the narrative and address misconceptions.
• Charities should focus on creating sustainable solutions and avoiding donor dependency.
• Community involvement and mutual benefit are crucial in the success of nonprofit programs.
• AI and technology can improve efficiency and scalability in the nonprofit sector.

Good Future Foundation

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