Should AI Be in the Classroom? Th...

Should AI Be in the Classroom? The Human Cost of Generative AI [UCL Professor Wayne Holmes] #33

The AI Lyceum by Samraj Matharu

E33

Jun 16, 2026

54:41

Episode notes

In this episode of The AI Lyceum®, Samraj Matharu speaks with Professor Wayne Holmes, Professor of Critical Studies of AI and Education at UCL Knowledge Lab and UNESCO Chair in the Ethics of AI and Education.

Wayne offers a direct challenge to the hype around generative AI. He argues that many AI tools are being adopted in schools, universities, workplaces, and public life without enough independent evidence that they improve learning, protect students, or support human development. The conversation explores AI literacy, student agency, over-reliance, automation bias, regulation, environmental impact, big tech power, and why humans must retain the right to reject AI.

Guest quote: ‘There is no independent evidence at scale that the AI tools developed for education are effective.’

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

0:00 ➤ Intro / Guest Welcome

6:50 ➤ Why AI Is Complicated

8:05 ➤ Direct vs Indirect AI Impact

9:30 ➤ Bias, COMPAS, and High-Stakes AI

10:45 ➤ The Evidence Gap in AI Education

14:30 ➤ ChatGPT as a Cognitive Crutch

16:45 ➤ Agency, Learning, and Human Development

23:00 ➤ Regulation, Big Tech, and AI Literacy

28:55 ➤ AI, Smoking, and Hidden Long-Term Harm

34:40 ➤ AI Productivity Myths in Coding