Uncle Jimmy Has a Camera: AI, Learning Design and the Myth of “Doing Digital”

AI promises to transform education, yet much of its appeal extends long-standing forms of automation rather than replacing the expertise of teachers, educational technologists and learning designers. This presentation questions whether institutions are becoming ready for change, or merely reactive to competitive pressure, novelty and market-driven claims. Using the metaphor of the digital camera, I argue that having powerful tools does not make someone a skilled designer of valuable learning experiences. AI cannot understand taste, context, empathy or pedagogical judgement. As universities rush to “do AI”, we risk devaluing empathic design and diminishing the student learning experience.