Ctrl+Alt+Educate: Rebooting Learning in an AI World

In this think piece, we investigate the evolving relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and education, acknowledging the diverse perspectives on AI's role in learning. Tracing the historical journey of education from ancient Mesopotamia to the digital age, we highlight how technological advances have consistently reshaped learning. With the recent emergence of large language models and generative AI tools, we contend that AI's presence in education is inevitable and mainstream, moving beyond a "backstage" role to actively shaping learning processes. Despite shifting perspectives, we agree that critical thinking should remain at the core of education in an AI-integrated world.