Hot Springs Technology Institute

Presenter: Kyle Yancey

Description: This session will focus on critical thinking in the age of AI. As AI continues to reshape our educational landscape, the challenges of generated misinformation, sophisticated deepfakes, and AI-assisted plagiarism compel us to reinvent education. Much like Star Trek's holodeck created indistinguishable simulations of reality, today's AI can generate content nearly indistinguishable from human work—making the cultivation of discernment not just valuable but essential. We stand at a critical crossroads: one path leads to a golden age of critical thinking, while the other to a troubling era of unchallenged synthetic "truths." The direction we take depends on whether education pivots decisively from information retention to information evaluation. This session explores how educators can equip students with the intellectual tools to navigate a world where appearances increasingly deceive. Participants will discover frameworks for designing learning experiences that prepare students to interrogate claims, identify synthetic content, and develop robust verification skills. Join us to explore how AI's very challenges may paradoxically elevate our most human capability: the reasoned pursuit of truth in an increasingly simulated information landscape.