YOUR GO-TO INTELLIGENCE RESOURCE FOR THE SCHOLARLY PUBLISHING INDUSTRY

An annual edtech event rebranded “Inspire” on digital advances in publishing and education has brought together thousands of Cambridge colleagues in person and online. Keynote sessions from speakers across technology and education examined approaches to developing critical thinking, supporting sustainable innovation, and identifying practical uses of AI.

Exhibitions and workshops across Cambridge and Manila offices presented internal knowledge-sharing, including work on customer experience, AI in teaching, learning and assessment, and data use. Ethical and responsible AI use was consistently addressed during the event.

Julie Dennis, Chief Technology Officer at Cambridge, and Guy Nicholson, Deputy Global Managing Director of Group Operations, introduced the event and noted challenges related to misinformation and disinformation. Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat, and Jim Knight, former Schools Minister and chair of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), discussed the role of education in developing critical thinking skills.

The discussion identified three types of inaccurate information—misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation—and described the shift from hierarchical information flows to more horizontal digital networks. Education was presented as a way for young people to verify information and counter disinformation.

The role of schools in preparing individuals to participate in a democratic society that has changed significantly was examined. The need to introduce critical thinking skills at primary and secondary education levels was emphasized. The discussion on education models described the post-war model as a “burning platform” and examined the use of technology to expand learners' opportunities.

The importance of deeper thinking, creativity, and engagement with learning was highlighted. Learning was described as requiring engagement with difficult material. Also, AI was discussed as a tool to support more individualized and less standardized education. Future learning pathways included opportunities for project-based and interest-driven education beyond age 14.

Mary-Jane Newton of the Institute of Acoustics discussed challenges in implementing digital innovation while maintaining existing operations. The need to balance forward-looking innovation with ongoing business activity was noted. The role of educators in leading innovation initiatives was identified.

Discussions also focused on identifying how AI can be applied effectively and where it adds value. Dr. Uday Phadke, co-founder of Triple Chasm, discussed aligning AI-enabled technology with value creation across the education and publishing value chain. Dr. Mark Bloomfield, a digital entrepreneur and Judge Business School Fellow, addressed approaches to working with AI while maintaining human oversight and organizational values. Colleagues from Cambridge, New York, and Manila shared current innovation initiatives. The event included nearly 50 exhibition stands and workshops across 10 concurrent thematic tracks.