In an age where artificial intelligence is reshaping how knowledge is produced, trusted, and used, teaching and learning specialists are being called to reassess their pedagogical foundations.

“Agentic” AI systems can independently browse and take action without direct human input. The rise of synthetic research is straining peer review systems, and “ghost learners” are appearing in classrooms. Amid both excitement and concern, education leaders around the world face pressure to act quickly, often with limited evidence to guide their decisions.

This keynote examines the frictions AI generates across curriculum, assessment, teaching and learning practices and governance, while highlighting the need to protect the public purpose of education. Drawing on the founding vision of MOOCs and open education, the keynote also considers new frontiers: from public interest AI and digital sovereignty to community-led and human-centred models of learning. Ultimately, it calls for planning education that is ethical and inclusive, where human agency remains the primary architect of educational transformation.