CERC Seminar: What is Knowledge in the Age of AI?

What is Knowledge in the Age of AI?

Date: September 17, 2026 (Thursday)

Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm 

Venue: RMS204, Runme Shaw Building, HKU / Online via Zoom

Language: English

Registration: https://hku.zoom.us/meeting/register/5I220sfISA6f6lGJurBUrQ

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a source of great contestation. Some argue that AI can significantly benefit education while others argue that its risks outweigh its benefits. In this seminar, I consider what is knowledge in relation to AI and education. Exploring knowledge from varied philosophical views, I argue that the kind of knowledge invoked by AI is limited and precludes broader views worth retaining. First, I examine different conceptions of knowledge in philosophy and education. These include conscious and unconscious, logical, rational, emotional, and normative views. Then I compare these perspectives to how knowledge is reflected in discussions of AI in education. While AI reflects some kinds of unconscious, logical, and emotional knowledge, AI is limited in knowledge related to social context and normative reasoning. AI may have some educational uses, but it remains risky to use in social and normative spheres. Human knowledge is distinctive from that portrayed in relation to AI. Educators should teach students about the limitations of AI in relation to developing and acting on knowledge. Developing a collaborative mindset for using AI rather than a substitutive model is essential given the limitations and challenges it poses.

About the Speaker:

Professor Liz Jackson is Karen Lo Eugene Chuang Professor in Diversity and Equity at the University of Hong Kong and the Associate Dean (Research) of its Faculty of Education. She is the Past President of the Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong and a Fellow and Past President of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia. She is the author of over 200 books, journal articles, and book chapters, including Beyond Virtue: The Politics of Educating Emotions, Questioning Allegiance: Resituating Civic Education and Emotions: Philosophy of Education in Practice. Her latest projects include a new authored book, Understanding Philosophy of Education and a multivolume handbook series (co-edited with Duck-Joo Kwak) on Philosophies of Education in Asia. 

All are welcome!

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