NEWS RELEASE
Minerva University students are taking the lead in a debate that’s roiling schools and colleges around the world: How can AI be used for the good of education? To find answers, AI Consensus connects students with AI researchers and executives through events in San Francisco, Paris, and Taipei, as well as a successful London conference.
Minerva undergraduates founded AI Consensus last year when they decided that university students are ideally suited to educators embrace AI responsibly. The nonprofit group is affiliated with Minerva but is run by students.
“Most AI education policies are created without student input — we're creating spaces to change that,” said Leo Wu M25, president of AI Consensus.
Digital Democracy Meets EdTech in Taipei
The group wanted to start by exploring how artificial intelligence will change learning and public engagement. They met in Taipei this past December, to meld Taiwan's edtech scene with its digital democracy pioneers. The event tapped into Taiwan's strengths of blending civic tech and education innovation. Taiwan's record in digital public services added an edge to the discussions. Teams studied practical AI applications while examining a pressing question: how to ensure that everyone can access and shape these emerging, powerful tools.
“When a whole country treats digital literacy as part of democracy, it opens new possibilities for the use of AI in society,” said Hubert Pyskło M27. “What Taiwan showed us is fascinating. We're taking these lessons to Europe, where the divide between civic tech and edtech is still pretty wide.”
San Francisco Night: When AI Learns to Think
AI Consensus brought the future of reasoning AI to San Francisco's tech hub. Students and experts discussed a crucial question: Which skills should education make a priority when AI can handle complex analysis?
Through hands-on meetings and interactive debates, participants explored how new AI models with reasoning capabilities are likely to reshape critical thinking and problem-solving in education. TaxGPT and Stanford Education experts joined students to examine what should and should not be taught as AI reshapes the job market. “We debated the fundamental question: Will AI make us smarter?” said Mashiko Lortkipanidze M25. That included critiquing AI’s impact on critical thinking, Lortkipanidze added. “Students are already testing how reasoning AI changes the way we learn,’
Building Bridges in Paris
AI Consensus took on Paris with a fresh look at Europe's AI future. Partnering with Polish students in France, the participants transformed Le Village, a tech campus, into a hub for scrutinizing AI's impact on careers and education. The group brought together the French and Polish tech scenes, creating an unexpected mix of perspectives on how AI reshapes learning and work.
The evening kicked off with insights from startup founders and policy experts, then shifted into practical discussions about preparing students for an AI-driven economy. Between fireside chats about learning science and debates on building powerful AI ecosystems, students connected with leaders from across Europe's tech landscape.
Future Initiatives
AI Consensus is preparing or its most ambitious year, with events spanning three continents. in Seoul, San Francisco, and Buenos Aires.
The Seoul event “will flip the script,” says Jakub Kalbarczyk M27. “Instead of companies telling students what AI can do, students will show companies how to solve challenges.” He added: “Korea's tech giants are the perfect partners for testing if students can drive real innovation in AI.”
AI Consensus is increasing its impact in unusual ways. For example, the group is sponsoring an essay contest for students to chronicle the impact of AI on their lives and show how AI is changing what it means to learn.
AI Consensus operates under fiscal sponsorship from Minerva University and is supported by the RT Youth Power Fund, backed by Pivotal Ventures, Omidyar Network and Archwell Foundation.