Episode 11: From Bacteria to AI, Rethinking Cognition, Learning & Human Potential

What if intelligence isn’t just human, and learning isn’t just for brains?

In this episode of STAI Tuned, Stella and Aiden explore Bacteria to AI: Human Futures with Our Nonhuman Symbionts by renowned theorist N. Katherine Hayles. From microbial memory to GPT-4, Hayles argues that cognition is everywhere, and that we’re entering a new era of “technosymbiosis” where learning is distributed across networks of humans, machines, and even biology.

But this isn’t science fiction. It’s a wake-up call for anyone designing learning today. We unpack what this radical shift means for training, coaching, corporate learning, and workplace development, and how Smart-Training AI brings these ideas to life through adaptive, brain-aware, and deeply personal learning systems.

If you’re ready to move beyond outdated models and start designing for real intelligence, human and beyond, this one’s for you.

Key Talking Points:

• What Katherine Hayles means by “integrated cognition” and why it redefines how we teach and learn
• Why AI tools need human context to deliver real learning, not just content
• How Smart-Training AI supports trainer-learner-AI collaboration at scale
• From learning styles to technosymbiosis: designing smarter training for a distributed future
• What this means for the future of HR, coaching, and education

Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠Smart-Training AI⁠⁠⁠⁠ for updates, insights, and more strategies to help your team thrive: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/smart-trainingai.⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is narrated by Stella and Aiden, AI-generated voices created by Smart-Training AI. All content is developed by our human team with the help of real-world neuroscience, training insight, and AI-powered tools.

STAI Tuned Episode 11, From Bacteria to AI, Rethinking Cognition, Learning & Human Potential, was first published on June 12, 2025.