Sage has published a white paper by Dr. Tom Chatfield that has outlined a human-centered roadmap for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education. The white paper examines the impact of AI, particularly generative AI, on education and cautions against allowing it to erode essential human skills including critical thinking, discernment, and domain expertise, while advocating for its use as a catalyst for deeper learning.
Drawing on cognitive science, instructional research, and real-world case studies—including development of a prototype ‘cognitive co-pilot’ AI tutor — the paper presents actionable recommendations for educators and institutions.
The analysis critiques defensive, surveillance-based responses to AI and calls for a shift toward transparent, experimental, and mastery-based assessment. It highlights the need for educators to act as designers and facilitators of learning environments and for institutions to ground technology use in civic and ethical purposes.
The paper positions the promise of AI not as automation of learning but as a means to elevate human insight, creativity, and collaboration. It argues for a future-focused pedagogy that prepares students to thrive in an AI-rich environment by developing both technical fluency and distinctively human capacities. Sage has noted that the exploration is timely for social and behavioral science and has characterized the paper as addressing a central question from academics about how students can learn effectively amid technological change.
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