Keynote Speaker

“Conceptual Support for AI Users”

Prof. Dr. Piet Kommers, UNESCO Professor of Educational Technology, The Netherlands

Abstract

The real merits of AI for human thinking still need to emerge. Just as Emile Durkheim’s ‘Sociology’ only arose after urban societies evolved, the same holds for AI; We are still in the honeymoon of intelligent agents and machine learning. This keynote opens the arena with the question: how can students, teachers, and professionals in general harvest a wider range of creative outcomes when supported by AI systems? My lecture highlights recent research on the conceptual underpinnings of human thinking: faculties like intuition, latent understanding, and deep learning offer much to Human-AI dialogues. Examples will be provided in the domains of geo-political tensions and the metacognitive sources for humor in narrative discourse: How can AI help us to ‘stand on the shoulders’ of great thinkers from before?

Bio

Dr. Piet Kommers is a respected emeritus professor at the University of Twente and a dedicated UNESCO professor in Learning Technologies. His pioneering work has spanned from creating the concept of hypertext to developing immersive 3D virtual reality experiences for learning and training. He has led the NATO Advanced Research Workshops and is a highly valued advisor and inspiring keynote speaker worldwide. Piet passionately believes learning is an essential and incredibly diverse human experience; it requires creativity, mental harmony, and reflective thinking. His latest books include ‘Sources for a Better Education’ and ‘AI for STEAM in Education.’ You can explore his current projects here. If you’d like to get in touch, you can reach him at pkommers@gmail.com.