By Kelsi Bowen
Jeremy Trotman, Mia Torres, Reem Khalifa, Joshua Liz, Ishmael Lallmahamad, Bradley Lyon,
Gary Beidleman, Jason Green, Councilwoman Rita Jospeh, and Colin Kaepernick (Photo provided by Kelsi Bowen)
On November 4, 2024, Gary Beidleman, Superintendent of Manhattan High Schools, organized "The Manhattan AI Summit" at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art. The event brought together a diverse group of students, administrators, and teachers from the Manhattan High School District, alongside council members and tech start-up leaders, to explore the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The summit provided a platform for discussions on how AI is transforming learning, creativity, and everyday life. Student journalists, podcasters, videographers, and photographers were also present to document the event.
Seven students from across NYC high schools showcased how they are using AI to enhance their education and prepare for future careers. Jeremy Trotman, a junior vocal major at LaGuardia High School, uses AI to curate music exercises, stating, "It's very helpful in making different exercises and practices." Mia Torres, a senior at Bard High School Early College Manhattan, is collaborating with NYU and Columbia professors to create a neuroscience and AI exhibit for underserved communities in Queens at the New York Hall of Science. Reem Khalifa, a senior at Stuyvesant High School, integrates AI into coding and aims to develop a machine-learning model to identify and combat misinformation in elections. Joshua Liz, a junior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, applies AI in creating production software and creative projects, including videography and scriptwriting. Ishmael Lallmahamad, a senior at Nest+m, uses AI for coding and robotics, particularly for debugging his code. Arafath Chowdhury, a senior at Union Square Academy, leverages AI to support his future career as a dental technician, noting it enhances both his creativity and learning. Bradley Lyon, a senior at Nest+m with dysgraphia, uses AI tools alongside Google Docs to help with writing challenges and improve his overall learning process.
Photo provided by Kelsi Bowen.
The student panel was facilitated by civil rights activist and former football quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who recently founded a tech startup. He praised the students for their innovative use of AI, highlighting how it helps them enhance learning, develop new skills, and expand their abilities. Kaepernick encouraged discussion by asking the students how adults could better support them and approach AI in the future.
Jeremy Trotman suggested that AI could help students master challenging concepts in large classes where individual teacher support is limited. However, Department of Education (DOE) staff and teachers worry about potential AI misuse for cheating or plagiarism. Bradley Lyon proposed that teachers become familiar with AI models, review assignment edit histories, and monitor task completion times to detect misuse.
Mia Torres argued that the cheating concern stems from broader educational issues rather than AI itself. "I don't think it's an AI issue but an issue across schooling in America where we have such a big emphasis on letter and number grades," she explained. "To integrate AI effectively, we need to shift away from defining students by their grades. When students feel more comfortable with that, we can start seeing how AI can help us learn."
The students emphasized the risks of AI censorship and bans, which could create educational inequities. Joshua Liz noted, "Students who rely on DOE resources are being cut off from a field that allows them to excel and learn more rapidly. They're being deprived of essential future skills."
Rather than banning AI, Arafath Chowdhury urged the DOE to invest in it. "I think the DOE should allocate a budget for AI education, creating tools specifically designed for NYC students and teachers to help them with everything from AP exams to chemistry tests and projects."
Photo provided by Kelsi Bowen.
The expert panel, featuring Councilwoman Rita Joseph, Dr. Michelle Gregory, Kaepernick, and Jason Green, explored how to prepare students and adults for a future with AI. Councilwoman Joseph, Chair of New York City's Committee on Education with 22 years of teaching experience, recently passed a resolution urging NYC public schools to train teachers in AI integration. Jason Green, a long-time partner with NYC public schools, co-founded Yourwai, an AI teaching assistant that "saves time and delivers high-quality, learner-centered instruction customized to your needs, vision, and approaches." Dr. Michelle Gregory, head of AI data science at National Geographic, holds a PhD in computational linguistics and has 30 years of AI practice. Kaepernick, founder of Lumi Story AI, a platform empowering creators with AI tools, also participated in the discussion.
The panel focused on preparing students and adults for an AI-driven future. Jason Green stressed the importance of teachers becoming learners: "We need our teachers and teacher leaders to become learners in this moment. Adults must learn alongside students, truly becoming co-creators of new knowledge in a time when we're still navigating an unfamiliar space."
Councilwoman Rita Joseph emphasized the need for adults to embrace AI, stating, "As adults, we cannot be afraid of AI. Students aren't afraid—they experiment and test it out. We need to be lifelong learners." She urged policymakers to invest in the future.
Dr. Michelle Gregory highlighted the importance of preparing students for changing job markets, noting, "Whether you're a heating plant technician, teacher, or doctor—AI is here, and jobs are changing. We must equip students for this future."
Kaepernick emphasized the need for equitable AI access and exposure to help students navigate the technological landscape. He warned about the digital divide, stating, "AI will either exponentially widen the gap or help us make significant progress toward equity."
Reflecting on his storytelling experiences and the inspiration behind Lumi, Kaepernick explained how technology can break down barriers. "In the past, you needed connections to tell your story. Now, students can create and share their voices," he said, highlighting how he is using technology to eliminate gatekeeping and reduce production costs, making storytelling opportunities more accessible.
While the panelists largely supported AI, Socratic circles in post-panel breakout rooms allowed anti-AI students to share alternative perspectives.
The Manhattan AI Summit focused on preparing students and educators for an AI-driven future. The event emphasized thoughtful AI integration, ethical considerations, and open dialogue. It highlighted the importance of equitable AI access, digital literacy, and addressing potential misuse. Ultimately, the summit underscored the shared responsibility of students, educators, and policymakers to embrace AI's potential while navigating its challenges.
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