Co-Intelligence - Part 7: Rethinking Learning: Intention, Action, and AI Surprises

Hello! Can you believe that summer is half over? My kids start school in about a month, and the other day, my 9-year-old told me how he’s been using ChatGPT to help him with some JSON. (He’s really into coding!) If my 9-year-old is already dabbling in AI, it really makes you stop and wonder: What does this mean for education?This week, I’m continuing my journey through Ethan Mollick’s Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, zeroing in on Chapter 7: AI as a Tutor. As I read and reflected, I found new clarity (and honestly, more than a few surprises) about how we set learning intentions and how AI might support them, often in ways far from what we imagined.From Rant to ReflectionConfession: When I started recording the podcast version, I felt myself drifting into a full-on rant, mostly about education and especially about rural and urban inequities. Those are topics I’m passionate about, but for this episode (and blog), my goal is something softer: a genuine, practical journal of lifelong learning.This chapter, though, really did unearth some emotions about educational inequity. Still, I do my best to lean away from politics. Facilitators need neutrality, and I’ve found it’s the best way to stay connected to the people I love and care about.Let’s dive into the primary insights and then shift to what it really means to be a student of AI.How AI Is Reshaping Learning (For Me and My Kids)Ethan Mollick puts it perfectly:“AI will reshape how we teach and learn, both in schools and after we leave them. At the same time, the ways in which AI will impact education in the near future are likely to be counterintuitive.”That quote echoes in my mind. Watching my son experiment with AI for coding, and as I use it for… well, practically everything, I see that “counterintuitive” feels just right.It can feel weird or even a little threatening to outsource learning or brainstorming to AI. But increasingly, I realize these tools aren’t just shortcuts, they’re shaping how I approach learning, and that’s just as true for adults as it is for kids.Becoming a Student—Of AI and With AIChances are, if you’re reading this, you’re experimenting too (or at least curious). My advice: Treat yourself like a student, no matter your age.Here’s how I approach it:* Set an intention. What do I really want to get done or learn this week? (Sometimes it’s as simple as “survive back-to-school chaos!”)* Notice what’s working or not. Do a quick check-in: What’s tripping you up? Where are you making progress?* Pick one thing to move forward. Make it small and doable. I’ll often ask AI to help brainstorm bite-sized next steps.* Find a buddy (if you can). My coworker Kristian and I set up lightweight check-ins—sharing what we’re working on, blockers, and little experiments we’re trying. Having another person to bounce ideas off helps, especially in those messy, early days.* Track your experiments. We set up a simple Kanban board in Notion, moving tasks from “To-Do” to “In Progress” to “Done” (or “Blocked” if we need help!). It’s surprisingly motivating to see AI experiments move forward, even slowly.Facing AI Fears (and the “Cheating” Question)On a recent walk with friends (shoutout to Abby and Leanna!), we started worrying about whether using AI is “cheating” or worse, just making us lazy. I hear this a lot. Every new technology, calculators, the internet, now AI, raises the same anxieties about the future of authentic learning.What I’m noticing, and what Mollick points to in this chapter, is that if we decide to use AI as a tutor—a partner in curiosity—it can actually accelerate real learning. AI can help us:* Synthesize information in new ways* Think critically (not just memorize answers)* Personalize our learning experience far beyond what any one-size-fits-all lesson plan could doThe Messy Middle: Why “Counterintuitive” Is a FeatureHere’s the truth: None of this is straightforward. My podcast (and this blog) are intentionally messy, because learning in the age of AI won’t be neat or predictable.So if you’re starting with AI (believe me, you are not alone), don’t stress if it feels awkward. Try setting a tiny intention, ask for a five-minute-a-day plan, or get help reframing a challenge. If you’re stuck, find a buddy, log your progress, and stay open to the “tutoring” surprises AI can offer.What’s NextI’ll be back next week with reflections on AI as a Coach, along with stories from the joyful immersion of a design sprint (my favorite workshop to facilitate) and a 5-day facilitation training.In the meantime: keep experimenting, keep asking questions, and keep letting curiosity lead the way.Because if a 9-year-old can ask ChatGPT for help with code… just imagine what we all could learn if we let ourselves try.Whenever you're ready, I can help you with:* Workshop design and facilitation* Facilitation and workshop training, including AI Opportunity Mapping and Sprints* Intention setting, planning, and incremental progress for success Get full access to Confessions of a Creative Leader at creativeleaderconfessions.substack.com/subscribe