MeshEd Blog

AI + Education Symposium: Cultivating Synergies, Shaping the Future

Saturday, Sept 30

Betaworks

October 20, 2023

By Elizabeth (Betsey) Hun Schmidt & Libby Kern

On September 30th, 2023, an AI Symposium entitled  "Can we trust AI with our kids?" was held at Betaworks. The event, attended by 200 people, aimed to bridge the gap between ed-tech developers, educators, policymakers, and students, fostering a collaborative environment to explore the potential of AI in education. It showcased a variety of AI learning products through curated demos, spanning early childhood to adult learning, facilitated by leading ed-tech designers, educational leaders, and students among others.

The interactive nature of the symposium, enriched by real-time polling and an afternoon reflection session, encouraged insightful discussions on the merits and risks of AI deployment in classrooms. The diverse attendee list encompassing students, educators, AI builders, and investors, alongside a wide spectrum of AI-for-learning companies, enriched the dialogue. The continuous engagement, from pre-event information collection to post-event polling, highlighted a concerted effort to harness collective insights for thoughtful integration of AI into educational systems, embodying a blend of curiosity, creativity, and community engagement.