#332: Most People Are Using AI Wrong, Are you?

Episode Summary Most people believe they know how to use AI—but are they simply treating ChatGPT like a replacement for Google? In this episode of The EdTech Podcast, Philippa Wraithmell speaks with Joshua, Co-founder and CEO of Mindstone, about what genuine AI competency looks like and why successful AI transformation depends far more on people, behaviour and organisational culture than technology. Joshua shares his journey from launching his first company as a teenager to co-founding SuperAwesome, the child-safety technology company later acquired by Epic Games. He explains how this experience shaped his thinking about digital safeguarding, parental responsibility and the need to help children engage with technology gradually, rather than attempting to protect them through blanket bans. The conversation explores why simply inserting AI into existing tasks rarely delivers meaningful value. Joshua argues that the real opportunity lies in changing how we approach work: asking AI to question us, challenge our assumptions, identify blind spots and support our thinking rather than outsourcing it. They also examine the widening AI skills divide. As experienced users build years of personal context, workflows and AI agents, those who delay may find themselves increasingly disadvantaged. This has major implications for workplaces, schools and universities—particularly when many institutions still respond to AI through prohibition rather than education. From leadership and workforce transformation to safeguarding, sustainability misconceptions and the future of employment, this episode asks an important question: are we preparing people to use AI well, or simply giving them access to the tools?  Key Topics What genuine AI competency looks like Why most people are using generative AI incorrectly Using AI to enhance rather than replace human thinking Why AI transformation is a people and behaviour-change challenge The responsibility of senior leaders during AI adoption The growing inequality between experienced and inexperienced AI users Why banning AI in schools can encourage secretive and inappropriate use Building safer, age-appropriate pathways into AI and social media The role of parents, governments and technology companies in safeguarding Misconceptions surrounding AI's environmental impact How AI agents are changing productivity and cognitive workload Preparing people for disruption across employment and education Chapters 00:00 – Welcome and Introduction to Joshua Joshua introduces Mindstone and its work helping non-technical teams use generative AI more effectively. 01:04 – Building a Business at Sixteen From creating websites for family connections to managing a team of students building technology for private banks. 02:08 – Early Start-up Lessons Joshua reflects on a failed start-up, turning down investment and the lessons that led to his next venture. 03:17 – Building SuperAwesome and Protecting Children Online How SuperAwesome developed advertising, privacy and verified parental-consent technology for global children's brands. 04:47 – Safeguarding, Regulation and Parental Responsibility Why Joshua believes governments must avoid removing parental agency when introducing online-safety regulation. 06:46 – Education, Curiosity and Challenging Authority Joshua discusses his school experiences, constant questioning and learning across six different school models. 10:04 – Why Joshua Founded Mindstone The transition from Epic Games into education, learning science and the future of workforce skills. 13:07 – When Skills Expire Before Degrees Are Completed Why the declining half-life of workplace skills raises fundamental questions about traditional education. 14:04 – ChatGPT Changes the Direction of Mindstone How generative AI transformed both the learning process and the skills likely to matter in the future. 15:28 – Why Most People Do Not Know How to Use AI Joshua explains why frequent ChatGPT use does not necessarily equal AI competency. 17:24 – ChatGPT Is Not a Search Engine Why treating AI as a Google replacement represents one of its least valuable applications. 18:17 – AI, Water and Energy Misconceptions A discussion about environmental claims, data centres and the importance of understanding evidence and scale. 20:45 – Stop Asking AI for Answers Joshua shares a simple technique: ask AI to question you, uncover blind spots and strengthen your thinking. 22:09 – Treating AI as a Conversation Why users should refine, challenge and continue the interaction rather than abandoning AI after one poor response. 24:10 – AI as a Digital Chief of Staff How accumulated context allows AI to understand preferences, decisions and working patterns more effectively. 25:04 – The Emerging AI Inequality Gap Why users who have spent years building AI systems and context may gain a compounding advantage. 26:54 – Why School AI Bans Are Failing How prohibition can drive AI use underground and encourage learners to outsource rather than demonstrate their thinking. 27:23 – Making AI the Baseline for Learning Why students should be expected to show how they improved upon AI-generated work rather than pretend the technology does not exist. 30:47 – AI Transformation Begins with Leadership Why executive teams must understand and use AI before asking the rest of an organisation to change. 33:11 – AI Is a People Problem The case for moving AI transformation from the chief technology officer to the chief people officer. 33:40 – Why Online Training Alone Does Not Change Behaviour How live demonstrations, personalised learning and practical workplace applications support meaningful adoption. 36:19 – Champions, Laggards and Organisational Change The role of internal champions, visible success stories and sustained momentum. 38:05 – Reclaiming Time for Meaningful Work How AI can reduce administrative burden and allow people to focus on the work they value most. 39:12 – The Safeguarding Knife Edge Joshua considers how children can gradually gain independence while parents retain appropriate visibility and support. 42:38 – The Problem with Digital Cliffs Why completely restricting children until a set age may leave them unprepared for the realities of online life. 44:38 – Technology Cannot Replace Parenting Lessons from SuperAwesome about parental consent, responsibility and the limitations of technical safeguards. 47:44 – Jobs, Robotics and the Next Decade Joshua shares an optimistic but honest view of significant employment disruption and rapid technological progress. 49:15 – AI Agents and 'Brain Fry' Why delegating routine work to AI can leave humans completing only the most cognitively demanding tasks. 50:48 – Becoming More Human in an AI World The opportunity to rethink work, protect time and make greater space for creativity, relationships and life beyond productivity. Mindstone Want to boost productivity by training your non-technical staff to use AI? Sign up for Mindstone's AI Competency Programme, or join one of the world's largest practical AI communities, with in-person events taking place every month around the world. AI Competency Programme: mindstone.com/enterprise Community and Events: community.mindstone.com/events