AI Pitfalls and Opportunities for Educators
Sarah Newman joins Brainwaves Video Anthology to offer six key recommendations for educators navigating the age of artificial intelligence. She argues that educators must engage with AI rather than ignore it, and emphasizes the importance of understanding AI’s risks, including bias, privacy concerns, misinformation, labor exploitation, and environmental impacts.
June 9, 2026
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Sarah Newman, Director of Art and Education at Metalab at Harvard University and Assistant Professor at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, offers six key recommendations for educators navigating the age of artificial intelligence. She argues that educators must engage with AI rather than ignore it, since students need AI literacy to succeed in higher education and future careers. At the same time, she emphasizes the importance of understanding AI’s risks, including bias, privacy concerns, misinformation, labor exploitation, and environmental impacts.
Newman encourages educators to move beyond fears of cheating and instead build trust through open conversations about learning goals, appropriate AI use, and academic integrity. She stresses that discussions about AI should include diverse voices—not just technologists, but also educators, humanists, and artists—because experts themselves often disagree about AI’s future. She also reminds audiences to be mindful of who owns AI tools, noting that most are controlled by private companies whose incentives may not align with public educational goals.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, Newman remains optimistic. She urges educators to approach AI with curiosity, humility, and critical thinking, recognizing that this is a remarkable moment in history—one that offers both significant risks and exciting opportunities for learning, teaching, and shaping the future.
