Can We Outsource Thinking? AI, Education, and the Future of Knowledge Work

Agentic AI is changing how we build software, manage data, conduct research, and learn new skills.But as AI takes over more cognitive tasks, a fundamental question emerges: what capabilities do humans still need to develop themselves?In this episode, Kris Peeters sits down with Frank Neven, Professor of Computer Science at Hasselt University and Vice Director of the Data Science Institute, to discuss the future of data engineering, AI-assisted learning, database systems, and human-AI collaboration.The conversation explores:Why understanding remains essential in an AI-driven worldHow universities are adapting to AI-powered educationWhat the latest database research tells us about the future of data platformsThe rise of agentic coding and AI-native software developmentHow AI is transforming scientific researchWhy structured knowledge and semantic data are becoming more valuableThis episode is particularly relevant for data leaders, CIOs, CDOs, architects, and engineering teams navigating the rapid evolution of AI.🌐 More at https://www.dataminded.com/#DataEngineering #AgenticAI #DataLeadership #ArtificialIntelligenceChapters: 00:00 From Theory to Data Engineering03:20 AI and Healthcare Data Integration06:00 The Data Science Institute in Practice19:00 Why Computer Science Education Matters25:40 AI in Education: Opportunity and Risk35:00 You Can Outsource Reasoning, Not Understanding38:45 Agentic AI and the Future of Databases45:50 How AI Is Changing Research51:45 Personal AI Systems and Knowledge Management59:30 Staying Open-Minded in Technology