Teach pupils to stay human, schools urged

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Education adviser Peter Hyman warned that schools risk producing students who excel at exams but lack critical judgment needed in an AI-driven world, advocating for a “human-maxxing” approach that develops intellectual, emotional, and practical skills. This highlights growing concerns that the UK education system must evolve to balance AI integration with cultivating independent thinking and holistic human potential.

Schools risk producing students who can pass exams but lack the critical judgment needed to navigate an increasingly AI-driven world, a prominent education adviser warned on Tuesday.

Peter Hyman, founder of School 21 and adviser to former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, addressed the issue during a lecture at the Royal Society of Arts. Hyman called for what he described as a “human-maxxing” revolution, emphasizing the need to develop all aspects of human potential—intellectual, emotional, and practical—rather than allowing technology to supplant critical thinking skills.

“You may have heard of looks-maxxing and gym-maxxing. Human-maxxing is about developing everything we are capable of: head, heart and hand. It is about taking back control of our attention, our judgement and our futures,” Hyman said, stressing the importance of cultivating independent judgment and attentiveness in students amid growing reliance on artificial intelligence tools.

The remarks come amid ongoing criticism of the UK’s education system and its approach to AI. Sir Anthony Seldon, a leading education historian and commentator, recently criticized the Department for Education (DfE) for failing to adequately integrate artificial intelligence into teaching, characterizing current efforts as preparing students for an “AI-less world that no longer exists.”

In response, a government spokesperson acknowledged the need for the education system to evolve in light of AI technologies. The spokesperson emphasized that any adaptation must build upon established knowledge about effective learning rather than discarding it, suggesting a cautious approach that balances innovation with proven educational principles.

The debate reflects broader tensions about how best to equip students for a future shaped by rapid technological change. While AI offers tools that can enhance learning, experts warn against allowing these technologies to undermine the development of critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Advocates of “human-maxxing” argue that education should foster holistic growth, enabling pupils not only to use AI responsibly but also to retain and sharpen their own unique cognitive and interpersonal abilities.

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