Reimagining Education in the Age of AI: An Interview with Lori

In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, AI continues to reshape various industries, including education. I had the pleasure of speaking with Lori Figueiredo , a change and learning strategist dedicated to empowering leaders and teams through her SYZYGY framework. During our conversation, she provided a clear vision of the challenges and opportunities in integrating AI into the education system, advocating for a fundamental transformation in how we approach learning.

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Understanding the Educational Ecosystem:

Lori positions herself as a disruptor and pioneer in education. She is frustrated by the common misunderstandings about AI’s potential, as many leaders focus on outdated concerns like screen time while missing the bigger picture. Her work with Ministries of Education and educational institutions, as well as conversations with corporate and NGO leaders, highlighted the widespread fear and misinformation about AI that prevent meaningful progress. Instead of worrying about trivial issues, she insists that we must completely reimagine the learning ecosystem.

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Reimagining the Role of Teachers:

Lori advocates for a significant shift in how teachers interact with students. Rather than delivering content or managing classroom logistics, teachers should focus on designing meaningful learning experiences. By harnessing the power of AI, teachers can delegate menial tasks to technology, allowing them to guide each student's journey at the appropriate pace and level. This means teachers should navigate technology as conductors, orchestrating AI tools to support personalized learning.

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Addressing Skill Gaps and Ethical Concerns:

Lori recognizes the lack of consistent guidelines around the ethical use of AI in education. Some schools ban AI entirely, while others embrace it, leading to inconsistencies in adoption and policy. She believes that myths surrounding AI should be dispelled while ensuring the proper governance to address social disconnection, cyberbullying, and age-inappropriate content. Leadership often remains disengaged, leaving teachers overwhelmed and under-supported.

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Lori's Personal Journey with AI:

An early adopter of technology, Lori has always valued scalability, reach, and data insights. Her SYZYGY methodology seamlessly integrates psychology and technology to enhance learning. She is agile in her adoption of new technologies like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot , emphasizing the importance of balancing AI with independent thinking. Lori learns through experimentation using life as her classroom supported by AI tools. She is always challenging herself to think creatively and using her tacit knowledge before relying on AI for insights.

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Striking a Balance between AI and Human Ingenuity:

Lori Figueiredo stresses that AI should complement rather than replace human creativity and intuition. While AI is unmatched in data processing and speed, it lacks the emotional intelligence and critical thinking that humans possess. She warns that overreliance on AI can diminish creativity and confidence, urging a balanced approach that uses AI as a tool rather than a crutch.

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Global Education Reform and the Future:

Lori envisions a strategic, global approach to integrating AI into education. The future will involve more self-organizing teams and gig work, with education systems that empower adaptability and creativity. However, many educational institutions continue to rely on outdated lecture-based methods that are incongruent with the future of work. Lori calls on leaders to step up, develop strategic frameworks, and reshape education to better reflect this evolving landscape.

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Conclusion:

Lori Figueiredo 's insights provide a visionary blueprint for how AI can fundamentally transform education. Her advocacy for empowering teachers to design comprehensive, experience-driven learning journeys reflects a deep understanding of how AI can complement rather than overshadow human ingenuity. The call to action is clear: we must reimagine education at a global level to empower the next generation of learners and leaders.