AI and Cognitive Offloading with Leon Furze

Share your thoughts about this episode as a text message. On the podcast today, I talk with author and consultant Leon Furze about the ideas found in some of his recent writing on AI and learning. We talk about resistance as a framework for combatting cognitive offloading, the mental models that educators and students have of working with AI (and how they can lead us astray), and classroom activities that can help students build the kinds of expertise they need to use AI effectively.Episode ResourcesLeon Furze’s websiteLeon Furze on LinkedIn“Resistance as a Framework for Combating Cognitive Offload,” Leon Furze, March 22, 2026“IYKYK: How Do We Know What AI Can Really Do?”, Leon Furze, March 18, 2026“Resistance Training Toolkit: Expertise,” Leon Furze, April 22, 2026“On the Sensibility of Cognitive Outsourcing,” Derek’s take on that MIT study, July 7, 2025Lodge, J. M., and Loble, L. (2026). Artificial intelligence, cognitive offloading, and implications for education. University of Technology SydneyCorbin, T., Tai, J., and Flenady, G. (2025). “Understanding the place and value of GenAI feedback: A recognition-based framework.” Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 50, 718-731“It’s time to move past the notion of AI as an answer machine,” Derek’s elaboration on Leon’s comment about mental models of AI, May 15, 2026Support the showPodcast Links:Order The Norton Guide to AI-Aware Teaching by Annette Vee, Marc Watkins, and Derek Bruff.Intentional Teaching is sponsored by UPCEA, the online and professional education association.Subscribe to the Intentional Teaching newsletter: https://derekbruff.ck.page/subscribeSupport Intentional Teaching on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intentionalteachingFind me on LinkedIn and Bluesky.See my website for my "Agile Learning" blog and information about having me speak at your campus or conference.