Who Does the Thinking? Learning and Human Capacity in an AI World

What happens to attention, judgment, and the capacity to learn when machines can think alongside us? Join Intentional Futures, Neural Education, and the Future of Higher Education Seattle Chapter for a panel on the human side of AI in education — grounded in the cognitive science of how people actually learn. AI is now embedded in classrooms, campuses, and workplaces. This panel starts with the people inside these spaces, discussing what AI is doing to how we think, learn, and build capability, and what educators, institutions, and employers should do with that knowledge. We'll dig into the cognitive science behind AI in education: what we know about attention, cognitive load, executive function, and judgment; where AI genuinely augments learning; and where it quietly offloads the very processes through which people build capability. Expect a practical, forward-looking conversation built for people who design learning experiences and make decisions about them. We'll look across education and workforce development to be direct about who these tools serve well and who they don't. Our panelists Missy Widmann, Co-Founder, Neural Education — on the cognitive and educational neuroscience of learning, attention, cognitive load, and adaptive expertise in an AI-saturated environment. Tia Holiday, Director of Growth and Business Development, Intentional Futures — on postsecondary success, equity, and what AI means for students the system already underserves.