AI Horizon R&D is happy to collaborate with the Educational Foundation Freiburg’s ambitious project to explore the role of artificial intelligence in education. We look forward to engaging with the Foundation’s students and educators throughout this project as they critically examine our AI platform, Horizon.

 

What Happens When AI Enters Our School Halls?

This compelling question was at the heart of the AI Horizon student kick-off event hosted by the Educational Foundation Freiburg. Over 200 students participated in this exciting launchpad, embarking on a year-long exploration of AI’s impact on education and daily life.

AI featured prominently during the event, with everything from AI-generated analyses of nonexistent poems to an original song composed by AI for the workshop. Students and teachers from nearly all schools within the Foundation gathered alongside the AI Horizon team and external experts to discuss how AI is transforming the way we learn and interact.

 

Engaging with Artificial Intelligence

Students actively chose to participate in seminar courses centered on AI, motivated by a shared interest in shaping the responsible use of this transformative technology in education. As one student from Bruchsal expressed: “We all still have so much to learn about AI. And since this technology still scares me a little, the seminar course is a great opportunity to delve deeper into it at school.”

The event fostered a sense of curiosity and determination among students to better understand AI and its implications. By taking part in the seminar courses, these young minds aim to contribute meaningfully to discussions and decisions surrounding AI’s integration into education.

 

Experts Share Insights on AI

The workshop provided a unique opportunity for students to engage with experts in the field. Michael Brenner, an educator specializing in AI training for teachers, demonstrated the potential of AI through relatable, school-centered examples. Among these was a fascinating analysis of a poem based on a nonexistent work by Goethe—an excellent showcase of AI’s creative and analytical capabilities.

Renowned academics, including Prof. Hannah Bast from the University of Freiburg and Prof. Paul Lukowicz from the Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz (DFKI), also shared their expertise. They explained the technical foundations of AI and emphasized the importance of critically examining AI’s societal impact. Their presentations encouraged students to view AI not only as a technological tool but as a subject of broader ethical and cultural significance.

 

A Crucial Topic for Students’ Futures

The kick-off event inspired students to identify key areas for exploration in their seminar courses. “Not only were the presentations and discussions exciting,” said a student from Ettenheim, “but it was also a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people from other schools.”

Principal Eberhard Pfister described the event as an inspiring start to a transformative journey. “It was a successful beginning to a year-long effort during which our students will critically examine AI and responsibly weigh its opportunities and risks.”

Students from Freiburg agreed: “Artificial intelligence will influence our lives; we want to know how to deal with it.” Another student from Heidelberg added: “These seminar courses are not just about the future of learning but about our future as a whole.”