AI Literacy: Decoding The Missing Piece in the Technology Revolution
Six years ago, Miriam Vogel attended the Davos Economic Forum and listened to a repeated yet bold prediction: AI would solve the world’s greatest challenges. At the time, it was a novel idea—a blend of optimism and ambition that captured the imagination. Fast forward to January 2025, at the same global convening in Davos where world leaders continued to champion AI optimism, while the conversation in homes and offices around the globe painted a very different picture. The excitement is still there, but it’s accompanied by a wave of apprehension and uncertainty. As Vogel reflects on her conversations with people across industries—from CEOs and judges to teachers and parents—one thing is clear: fear is dominating the dialogue.
“I’m going to be replaced,” “I’ll never understand it,” “My kids won’t have a future,” and even “Humans won’t survive” are just a few of the comments she hears. These fears speak to a profound disconnect: while AI is already transforming industries, workflows, and daily lives, many people feel excluded from the conversation and powerless to stop AI’s influence on their lives. They’re uncertain about how to engage with AI, and they’re left wondering how it will shape their careers, communities, and families.
Rosalind Wiseman, a longtime educator and cultural thought leader, has observed similar patterns. Advances in technology are profoundly changing the learning environment in ways educators can’t fully anticipate. She has seen how educators and students are concerned, confused, and excited about AI in their learning. As she’s traveled the globe, she’s seen how AI raises questions about autonomy, agency, education and learning. Teachers, for example, face a unique challenge. “Many educators fear that AI devalues the traditional processes of learning they’ve cherished, sacrificed for and worked so hard to instill. At the same time, students across the world are demanding an education that has real world application so they are equipped for an increasingly complex world.” Wiseman explains. “There’s a disconnect between how students are learning today and the methods teachers were taught to use. This gap creates anxiety, making it harder to see the incredible potential AI has to reimagine education, enhance creativity, and transform learning.”
It’s this blend of optimism and concern that has brought Vogel and Wiseman together to champion AI literacy in 2025. They recently launched a deep-dive on the topic on the global AI podcast, In AI we Trust?, where they explore why AI literacy is essential for everyone—not just tech experts. In this series, they meet with leaders across sectors to define AI literacy and discuss how it can empower workers, teachers, parents, policymakers, and others to engage confidently with AI and make informed decisions about its use.
Vogel emphasizes the importance of reaching a broader audience. “AI has the power to unlock creativity, boost productivity, and fuel innovation, but those benefits won’t reach everyone unless we bring more people into the conversation,” she says. “We are at a critical inflection point where, if we don’t proactively address fears and misconceptions, we will miss the opportunity for AI to fulfill its potential, empower communities and individuals.”
For both Wiseman and Vogel, AI literacy isn’t just about understanding technology. It’s about building self-agency and ensuring that people feel equipped to navigate how AI impacts their lives. It’s about acknowledging the anxieties, honoring the ways we’ve learned to think in the past, and finding pathways to integrate AI into workflows and conversations in ways that are meaningful, equitable, and forward-thinking.
Their podcast series brings innovative and thoughtful leaders in the field into a conversation where all are invited to expand their understanding of what AI means for their lives, and shape its future. Whether you’re curious about AI’s impact or unsure of where to start, this series offers a compelling roadmap for how we can all play a role in ensuring AI benefits everyone. Listen now (listen and rate 5 ⭐️s here!) to join the conversation and take the first step toward an AI-literate world.
This podcast is part of the EqualAI “AI Literacy Project”. The AI Literacy Project will include the curation and publishing of leading AI educational resources coupled with an event series to convene stakeholders, align efforts, amplify educational resources, and engage key policy makers and industry leaders in our effort to support and benefit the broader community.