Event Summary
**This event will be held in person only.
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally rewriting the rules of how we learn, teach, and train. From AI-powered tutors in elementary schools to automated grading in universities and predictive upskilling in the corporate world, AI is augmenting learning and accelerating training and expertise development. The question is no longer if AI belongs in education and development, but how we manage its massive, disruptive influence and maximize its benefits while addressing its limitations.Join the Austin Forum for a dynamic, multi-perspective conversation featuring a panel of leading academic and industry experts who will explore these topics and take audience questions. We will explore the sweeping transformation of the learning landscape across the entire lifecycle—spanning K-12 classrooms, higher education institutions, professional development programs, and lifelong learning opportunities. This session will go beyond the standard talking points to look at the empirical data, real-world case studies, and systemic challenges of this new frontier.
Discussion Highlights
The Lifelong Learning Spectrum: How AI tools are being tailored for different stages of development—from fostering foundational literacy in K-12 to optimizing academic research in college and accelerating workforce retraining.
The Success Stories: An examination of where AI is genuinely moving the needle. We will look at personalized learning platforms that adapt to a student's unique pace, AI assistants that relieve teachers of administrative burdens, and immersive simulations that make professional training safer and more effective.
The Failure Modes & Pitfalls: A candid look at the dark side of digital classrooms and training modules. Our experts will tackle the complex issues of academic dishonesty, the erosion of critical thinking skills, the amplification of bias in automated assessment, and the hype surrounding expensive tools that fail to deliver actual value.
The Human-AI Synergy: Strategies for educators and corporate leaders to integrate these tools effectively. We will discuss how to design curricula that embrace AI as a collaborator rather than a crutch, ensuring learners discover how to think, not just how to prompt.
Who Should Attend?
Whether you are an educator striving to adapt your classroom, a technologist building the next generation of EdTech, a corporate leader looking to upskill your workforce, or anyone navigating the shifting professional landscape, this event will provide the insights and frameworks you need to navigate the future of learning. Bring your tough questions for an open, balanced, and essential conversation on how we can harvest the immense potential of AI while fiercely protecting integrity and human potential.
Continued Conversation & Networking
The discussion doesn’t end when the panel wraps up! Join us immediately following the presentation for post-event networking and continued conversation at Remedy, located at 3rd & Nueces. Connect with fellow attendees, swap insights from the event, and enjoy a complimentary drink on us, thanks to our amazing Austin Forum Annual Partners, Champions, and Friends.
Speakers
Cliff Archey, Head of Product Marketing for Agents, Superhuman
Cliff Archey is the Head of Product Marketing for Agents at Superhuman. Put simply, he leads the strategy for which problems Superhuman and Grammarly agents should solve, and for whom. Previously, Cliff led product marketing for Grammarly for Education, leveraging his over a decade of experience in edtech to ensure Grammarly’s AI writing assistance meaningfully improved written communication and learning for students, educators, and higher education institutions. Cliff started his career as a high school special education and social studies teacher and explored various nonprofit and public policy roles before landing in the tech world. He moved from New York City to Austin in 2018 to become a Longhorn and his family of four never wants to leave.
Dr. Carol Fletcher, Director of EPIC (Expanding Pathways in Computing), UT Austin Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC)
Dr. Carol Fletcher is Director of EPIC (Expanding Pathways in Computing) at UT Austin’s Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) where she oversees research, policy, and professional development projects in STEM and computer science (CS) education. In 2015, she founded the nationally recognized WeTeach_CS professional development program, which has since trained and supported thousands of K12 educators in computer science, computational thinking, cybersecurity, AI, and other frontier technologies. She serves as PI for the NSF Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance and lead author of the CAPE Framework for examining interdependencies and structural barriers in the CS education ecosystem. Carol’s research interests include education policy and collective impact models for promoting systemic improvements in STEM education.
Carol is a former middle school teacher and an elected Pflugerville ISD School Board Trustee from 2001 to 2019. Her experiences as a teacher, policymaker, and researcher bridge the gap between education, workforce, and policy. Additional leadership roles include Chair of the Texas AI in Education Task Force, Chair of the Texas Computer Science Task Force, CS4TX co-founder, the TEA’s STEM Educator Standards & IT Industry Advisory Committees, and numerous NSF funded STEM education grant advisory boards.
Luke Owings, Chief Product Officer, Abilitie
After falling in love with education at business school, Luke Owings has built his career around developing others through the power of hands-on learning. An expert in team building, leadership development, and people operations, Luke is CPO at Abilitie, where he leverages his deep expertise in designing and developing learning journeys for professional learners across industries. Before joining Abilitie, Luke was with McKinsey & Company and the Fullbridge Program. In addition to holding a BA and Certificate in Finance from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Luke has completed Outward Bound Instructor training and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. As a college athlete, Luke played in the NCAA Division 1 basketball tournament and was once the #6 play on Sportscenter’s Top Ten.
Julie Schell, Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Technology, The University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Julie Schell is the Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Technology and the Director of the Office of Academic Technology at The University of Texas at Austin. She is at the forefront of stewarding the changing landscape of higher education in the age of AI. Her current passion project is UT Sage, an AI tutor and instructional design agent she conceived to drive innovative and responsible adoption of AI in the university classroom. Dr. Schell is also an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Departments of Design and Educational Leadership and Policy, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. Dr. Schell has over 25 years of experience in higher education and has held positions at the nation's top research universities, including Stanford, Columbia, Harvard, and Yale. She completed her doctorate in Higher and Postsecondary Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a four-year postdoctoral fellowship in the Mazur Group at Harvard University. She was named one of Ed Tech Magazine's 2026 Higher Education Influencers to Follow in the category of Digital Learning Pioneer. Dr. Schell serves on the Higher Education Advisory Board at Anthropic.
Attendance Instructions
In-person
ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000 The Center for Government & Civic Service 1218 West Avenue Austin, TX, 78701
Parking map here! Street parking is free after 6 pm.
In-person attendees, please join us from 5:15 to 6:15 for networking and food. We look forward to chatting with you face-to-face!
