Pasi Sahlberg on AI and Flourishing in education

What is the purpose of education in an AI-driven world?

In this thought-provoking episode of the AI in Education Podcast, Ray and Dan sit down with Pasi Sahlberg to explore one of the biggest questions facing schools, universities, and society today.

Drawing on global research, OECD trends, and decades of educational leadership, Pasi explains why traditional measures of success - achievement, credentials, and test performance - may no longer be enough in the age of AI.

The conversation explores:

• Human capital vs human flourishing
• Why wellbeing and agency matter more than ever
• The future of assessment and PISA
• AI's impact on work, learning, and society
• Why "hope is not a strategy"
• What schools should prioritise over the next decade

The episode also reflects on parenting, teacher accountability, screen time, and the human skills that may become most valuable as AI capabilities accelerate.

Referenced in this episode:

 OECD Education for Human Flourishing. 
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/education-for-human-flourishing_73d7cb96-en.html 

An accidental guru: The making of an education warrior
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073805932600060X 

Sir Ken Robinson at TED - Do Schools Kill Creativity?
https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity