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Professor Brumby to deliver UCL Lunch Hour Lecture on AI Literacy in Higher Education

6 February 2025

Generative AI is rapidly reshaping higher education, bringing both new opportunities and significant challenges. As AI tools become embedded in academic and professional life, how should universities respond?

figurative-artwork-showing-student-who-cheats-by-using-ai

Professor Duncan Brumby, Faculty Graduate Tutor (Taught Programmes) in the Faculty of Brain Sciences and a leading expert in Human-Computer Interaction at UCL, will explore this question in an upcoming UCL Lunch Hour Lecture titled “The AI Revolution is Here: Why We All Need AI Literacy in Higher Education.” The event, which takes place online on 6 March 2025 from 13:00 to 14:00, is free and open to all. 

Event details and registration: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/events/events/2025/mar/lunch-hour-lecture-ai-revolution-here-why-we-all-need-ai-literacy-higher-education

Key Themes 

  • AI literacy in education: As AI tools become more widely used in academic work, students and educators must learn how to critically evaluate AI-generated content. AI literacy is essential to address bias, misinformation, and the risk of over-reliance on automated tools. 
  • Preserving human voice in AI-assisted work: AI can assist with writing and research, but how can students and academics ensure their original thinking is not lost? The lecture will explore how AI should support rather than replace human creativity. 
  • Pausing for reflection: Generative AI can produce content quickly, but does speed come at the expense of quality? The talk will highlight the “speed trap” - where uncritical AI use can lead to shallow thinking - and explore strategies for maintaining academic rigor. 

A Timely Discussion on AI’s Role in Higher Education 

With AI tools like ChatGPT and, more recently, DeepSeek already integrated into learning and professional workflows, this discussion is both timely and necessary. As Professor Brumby explains, universities must move beyond fear and instead develop responsible AI literacy programs: “The best jobs won’t go to AI tools—they’ll go to people who know how to use them well.” 

The lecture will be chaired by Professor Yvonne Rogers FRS, a leading expert in Human-Computer Interaction and Director of the UCL Interaction Centre. 

Want to Learn More?

Ahead of the lecture, Professor Brumby has written about the challenges and opportunities of generative AI in education. In his latest Substack post, he explores why universities must address AI fears head-on rather than resisting change.

Read: Preparing Students for a Future Shaped by Generative AI (https://substack.com/home/post/p-155914100)

For more details and to register for the event, visit: UCL Lunch Hour Lecture - The AI Revolution is Here (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/events/events/2025/mar/lunch-hour-lecture-ai-revolution-here-why-we-all-need-ai-literacy-higher-education).

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