Wellington Festival of Education — Panel

Following the publication of a practitioner-focused chapter on generative AI, bias, and policy in institutional settings, I was invited to speak on a panel at the Wellington Festival of Education, discussing the ethical implications of AI in education - a conversation that's become increasingly urgent as AI tools reshape how students are being taught and supported.

During our discussion, we explored how GenAI outputs reflect patterns and assumptions baked into their training data. When tools marketed as 'intelligent' exhibit bias, students disconnect from resources that could genuinely help them, reinforcing the very inequalities these tools should help address.

Yet this isn't a reason to abandon GenAI. Instead, when educators maintain agency through critical prompting and learn to spot bias in outputs, they can harness these tools to create diverse, representative learning resources.

Millions of students are experiencing learning shaped by AI right now. As we move through a transitional period, it becomes more vital than ever to harness AI’s huge potential for increased representation and accessibility in the classroom, whilst staying vigilant about potential dangers.