A great way to kick off the year was attending the AI Summit in Cornwall, which was fantastic. The sessions were genuinely insightful, and there was a really good mix of people from different backgrounds, which made the discussions even richer.
Zoe Hastings spoke about how important the language we use around AI is, especially when teaching young children. With the rapid rise of generative AI, it’s easy to start thinking of chatbots as sentient beings and forget they’re really just probability-driven algorithms. At a formative age, it’s vital that children understand AI as a tool, not a “being”. Avoiding language that anthropomorphises chatbots helps set healthy boundaries and prevents over-reliance, and avoids situations like this one: https://tinkimo.com/girls-tearful-goodbye-to-ai-robot-sparks-debate-on-human-machine-bonds/
Andy Weir explored how AI doesn’t need to sit in its own box as a standalone subject, but can be woven into many areas of learning. He gave a great example around language and generative AI, where vague or ambiguous prompts can lead to unexpected results. Getting the behaviour you want often involves experimentation, echoing the scientific approach of plan, do, study, act.
Ben and Tamsin from the Ted Wragg MAT shared insights into the trust’s core values: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Digital Responsibility, Sustainability, and Wellbeing. Their focus is on spreading knowledge across the region and identifying tools and practices that genuinely make a difference.
Rupert Lawler talked about how AI tools can help make classrooms more inclusive, as well as reducing the paperwork burden for SEND students. He highlighted examples such as transcription tools, which can create a more accessible experience for students who find writing challenging or for whom English isn’t a first language.
The day wrapped up with Caitlin Gould leading a discussion on AI ethics. It was a great way to finish, with open conversations about potential AI applications, the challenges they might introduce, how those risks could be mitigated, and the benefits they could bring.
One of my biggest takeaways was just how much work is going into making the South West a trailblazer in AI and digital innovation as these frontiers continue to develop.
