Transforming Learning: Harnessing AI for Education and Business Success

As generative AI transforms education, a new wave is emerging: agentic AI, capable of taking initiative and performing tasks autonomously. In this episode of EdTech Connect: Innovators in Conversation, Acky Kamdar, CEO of Magic EdTech, and Fadl Al Tarzi, CEO of Nexford University, explore how these technologies are shaping the future of learning, human creativity, and the workforce.

Experimenting with Agentic AI

Both edtech leaders emphasized experimentation as the key to adoption. Both Acky and Fadl shared that their companies are experimenting with personalized student guidance and dynamic curriculum updates. At Nexford University, AI is helping incoming students navigate programs and degree pathways based on their career goals, prior experience, and informal learning, functioning almost like a personal advisor. Acky highlighted similar initiatives at Magic EdTech, using AI internally for marketing, sales, and recruiting. However, while aware of AI’s potential,  both leaders emphasized the continued importance of human oversight. There is still a “black box” nature associated with generative and agentic AI that needs to maintain quality control.

Learning to Coexist with AI

A recurring theme of the conversation was the importance of balancing AI with human judgment and interactions. Acky illustrated this with an example from wealth management where high-net-worth individuals prefer human advisors, while younger generation investors might prefer AI-driven interactions so they don’t have to associate with another human.

Internally, while AI enables teams to automate administrative and repetitive tasks, freeing employees to focus on creative, value-added work. “I want my team to enjoy working with AI,” Acky said. “We don’t want them to become slaves to technology. We want to coexist with it, using it to amplify human potential.” It’s clear that AI is here to stay. While we remain in the experimental phase of AI usage, soon we will be less forgiving of AI errors.

AI-Driven Innovation in Education

There is no denying that AI is here to stay, and with President Trump’s green light, both leaders noted that AI can level the playing field, opening new possibilities for learners and educators alike:

Fadl expressed that traditional higher education pedagogy often lacks widespread creativity and is therefore slow to new workflow adoption. This results in students already behind the curve for workforce preparedness and therefore, not as competitive when applying to jobs post-graduation. With AI, universities can explore personalized learning at scale, catering to individual needs and outcomes, so their students are more competitive and stand out in the job market.

Acky elaborated on this point by noting that AI can unlock human potential. AI helps enable learners to pursue skills or careers they might have felt incapable of tackling before. For example, a student who once struggled with creative writing can now use AI tools to explore the writing process or even use AI to coach them.

Becoming AI-First and Future Implications

In the news, more and more companies are branding themselves as “AI-first.” This is due to both a strategic and existential imperative. AI is a force that we cannot ignore. Organizations must begin to integrate AI to remain competitive, just as the internet became essential decades ago. For education and universities, this has profound implications:

• Faculty roles will evolve, moving away from traditional teaching toward mentorship, guidance, and creativity.
• Curricula must adapt quickly to match labor market demands, requiring agile institutions and continuous reskilling.
• Skills for the future will focus on creativity, communication, and adaptability, rather than rote memorization or narrowly defined technical abilities.

Acky emphasized the importance of design thinking in AI integration: knowing where AI should take the lead, where humans are essential, and how to structure organizations so teams can thrive alongside technology.

Looking Towards the Future of Education

Both Acky and Fadl envision a future where AI removes barriers, enabling anyone to learn new skills or explore creative endeavors. Their prior experience or background will not define their opportunity. Acky relayed:

“Human creativity and machine intelligence coexisting make it easier to tackle challenges, pursue passions, and create richer, better outcomes for learners, employees, and the industry as a whole.”

As both AI and education continue to evolve, AI will not merely automate tasks. It will personalize learning, unlock new human potential, and redefine what is possible, both in the classroom and the workplace.