Brave New World: A Conversation With Deborah Quazzo On AI, The Future Of Work And ASU+GSV 2023

This time last year, the world was still reeling from pandemic-related disruptions. Even as we reimagined learning, working and living with new technologies like Web3, virtual reality and the metaverse, their prospects appeared remote compared to our immediate health, education and economic crises.

Then ChatGPT happened. The sudden appearance of generative artificial intelligence shook—and divided—people across all sectors, but particularly education. While many educators, faculty and entrepreneurs embraced the opportunities presented by the technology, others scrambled to hurriedly enact restrictive policies to prevent cheating and other perceived threats.

Sensing this watershed moment, leaders of this year’s ASU+GSV Summit are bringing together influential entrepreneurs, leaders, educators and investors to explore the brilliance—and potential risks—of where we are heading. “Brave New World: Imagining a New Era in Which All People Have Equal Access to the Future,” scheduled for April 17-19 in San Diego, will delve deeply into the innovative ways to solve our challenges. Speakers include Microsoft founder Bill Gates; Colorado governor Jared Polis; “Abbott Elementary” actress Sheryl Lee Ralph; TenCent founder Charles Chen and Lean In founder Sheryl Sandberg, the former COO of Meta.

I recently spoke with Deborah Quazzo, summit co-founder and managing partner at GSV Ventures, about how this year’s ASU+GSV Summit theme ties to this critical moment.

Phyllis Lockett: “Brave New World” conjures visions of a futuristic society where technology revolutionizes every aspect of our lives, especially how we learn and work. But the reality is that we’re 15 years or so into the “edtech revolution,” and academic performance has remained flat and, since the pandemic, declined substantially. How will the programming address this contradiction so we can bring this brave new world to fruition?

Deborah Quazzo: You can’t use an old map to navigate a new world. And our educational system has operated off old maps for far too long. Take generative AI, which was created and adopted faster than any technology we’ve seen. Educators have reacted one of two ways: hand-wringing about how tools like ChatGPT might enable cheating or leveraging the technology to unleash creativity and reimagine teaching and learning. This revolutionary technology has the potential to allow teachers to transform learning, build engaging new content and offer more equitable instruction.

Generative AI technology manifested during a tough post-Covid-19 market for edtech. The media has fixated on the potential drawbacks and ethical dilemmas of this technology without noting the benefits. Our programming this year is an attempt to infuse optimism into the equation—as we’re doing with our discussion Tuesday on “The Future of Integrity in the Brave New World of ChatGPT.” That discussion will feature Ethan Mollick, associate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Paul LeBlanc, president of Southern New Hampshire University; Emma Brunskill associate professor in the Computer Science Department at Stanford University; Chris Caren the CEO of Turnitin; and Edward Tian the founder of GPTZero.

We’re devoting a full channel of programming to the topic: “AI: Software is Eating the World, AI is Its Teeth.” On Monday, Sourabh Bajaj of the upskilling platform CoRise will lead a primer on ChatGPT and generative AI. On Tuesday, we’ll address many of the qualms educators have with this technology during “The AI Paradox: Striking a Balance Between Innovation and Excellence.” Panelists will be Stanford University’s Brunskill, Tracy Pizzo Frey of Uncommon Impact Studio & Ventures, and Lukman Ramsey and Sara Wiltberger of Google.

Several keynote speakers also plan to discuss the implications of AI, including Khan Academy founder Sal Khan. He’ll join Ashok Goel of the Georgia Institute of Technology, George Siemens of the University of Texas at Arlington and Amelia Parnell of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators for “AI & Education: New Horizons, Old Perils.”

Lockett: We’ve long heard about the urgency to prepare workers for the jobs of the future. One thing we’ve learned recently, through innovations such as ChatGPT, is that the future has arrived. To that end, you’ve expanded programming about workforce learning and skills. What new ideas are emerging in those areas? And how does generative AI fit in?

Quazzo: Generative AI has the potential to personalize learning and provide new pathways to careers. It’s just one of the exciting transformations at the intersection of learning and work. Another part of this brave new world is about breaking out of the silos of K-12, higher education and workforce development. We’re devoting much of our programming this year to workforce development. One of the highlights of the “HirEd: Workforce Pathways” channel will be Monday’s Skills-A-Palooza. Headlined by Cameron Hedrick, chief learning officer of Citi, the discussion will feature four break-out stages of content devoted to exciting developments in learning and skilling.

The employer is the new fourth pillar of education, increasingly playing a role in providing employees with opportunities to upskill and reskill. On Tuesday, the “Workforce and Learning” channel will convene a panel on the evolution of education-as-a-benefit and internal mobility featuring speakers from Walmart, Guild and other corporate learning innovators.

Lockett: K-12 education is near and dear to my heart and an area that really is ripe with challenges and possibilities. You’ve got a record number of educators registered this year, including 1,100 U.S. superintendents. What programming have you lined up for them?

Quazzo: AI is causing more disruption to education and traditional edtech than any invention in recent memory. We’re thrilled to have Ethan Mollick lead a discussion Wednesday afternoon along those lines called “AI Required: Teaching in a New World.” He’ll outline ways that AI-required classes can save instructors time and effort, and explain what students learn when AI is mandatory.

Laurie Santos, a professor of psychology at Yale University, will speak Monday about her partnership with Sesame Street to build happiness programming for kids. And there is a Tuesday afternoon conversation with Bill Gates, moderated by Dreambox CEO Jessie Woolley-Wilson, about the potential for generative AI in math courses.

Lockett: Every year, ASU+GSV recognizes entrepreneurs, educators and investors who are advancing the narrative with their innovative ideas. Who are the honorees this year?

Quazzo: We’re honoring two extraordinary Innovators of Color this year: Martin Basiri, the founder and CEO of Passage and co-founder and former CEO of ApplyBoard; and Sharif El-Mekki, CEO of the Center For Black Educator Development. Our Lifetime Achievement Award winner is Wendy Kopp, CEO and co-founder of Teach For All.

The 2023 Power of Women award winners are: Stacy Childress, former CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund and the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund; Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company; Nivine Megahed, Ph.D., president of St. Louis University; Ritu Narayan, co-founder and CEO of Zum; Lucy Suros, CEO of Articulate; Kate Eberle Walker, CEO of Presence; Jessie Woolley-Wilson, president and CEO of DreamBox Learning; Julie Young, vice president of education outreach and student services at Arizona State University; and Ashley Anderson Zantop, CEO and chairman of Cambium Learning.

We’ll also announce winners of the GSV Cup, a $1 million pitch competition—the world’s largest—for edtech startups in workforce skills and education. Judges have narrowed the field to 20 companies, whose leaders will deliver live three-minute pitches during the summit. Three finalists will deliver another pitch Wednesday, when we’ll announce the winner.

Lockett: The summit is sold out with a record registration of 7,000 attendees. How can people watch remotely?

Quazzo: Virtual attendees can access Stage X speakers–including Bill Gates and Sheryl Sandberg—for free. Registration is available through our website’s home page.

Lockett: There’s tremendous value in making this content available online, which people can access at their convenience. The summit is one of my favorite weeks of the year, since I always leave with a fresh vision of my own work. I know attendees will be inspired to take on this brave new world after attending this awesome convening.