tech
Pearson's Dave Treat: AI Should Guide Learning, Not Cheat
Pearson’s Chief Technology Officer Dave Treat on academic integrity, AI adoption and the skills that matter most as agentic AI reshapes education today
TL;DR
- Pearson's CTO Dave Treat believes AI should guide learning rather than enable cheating.
- Academic integrity concerns arise from how AI tools are used, not the technology itself.
- Pearson uses AI study tools that prompt students to think through problems, guided by learning science.
- Peak usage of Pearson's AI study tools by US higher education students occurs around 9 pm.
- Dave Treat advocates for 'driving school' style training for AI adoption to prevent misuse.
- Pearson has established an AI Centre of Enablement to manage AI transformation across the business.
- The company is modernizing its data infrastructure to support its AI ambitions.
- Pearson collaborates with major tech companies, viewing it as a mutually reinforcing partnership.
- Essential skills for the future include judgment, domain expertise, imagination, empathy, and collaboration.
- The future of learning involves 'learning in the flow,' integrating microlearning into daily life and work.
- AI can make practical at scale the assessment of oral exams, a strong indicator of understanding.
- Pearson has developed an AI Agent Verification prototype with IBM Consulting to test and audit digital agents.