Leading with Wisdom: WISE CEO on Why Humanity Must Drive Technology in Education

Dr. Asyia Kazmi, incoming CEO of WISE (World Innovation Summit for Education), believes we’re at a critical juncture for education. Speaking at WISE 12 in Doha, she outlined why the summit’s them, humanity.io, captures the challenge facing educators worldwide.

“We need to ensure that technology is not the driving force. Humanity is the driving force,” Dr. Kazmi explained. The focus is on embedding human values, curiosity, creativity, equity, ethics, and critical thinking, into how we develop and use technology, “so that we have the outputs to allow us to lead with wisdom.”

The Leveling Myth

While AI promises to democratise education, Dr. Kazmi urged caution against assuming technology alone will create equity.

“We should not be assuming just because the technology exists, the leveling is going to happen. Even if it’s made for free, some groups do not benefit equally from it.”

She highlighted the infrastructure gaps, from electricity and connectivity to device access, that limit AI’s reach globally. Beyond hardware, there’s the need for teacher support, pedagogical innovation, and continuous evaluation to ensure technology genuinely makes a difference.

Risks and Opportunities

Dr. Kazmi, a mathematics teacher by background, sees both promise and peril.

“I can set an assignment using AI, it can be done using AI, it can be marked using AI,” she noted. The challenge is ensuring students develop higher-order skills: discernment, critical evaluation, and understanding of data implications.

Digital wellbeing is another concern. “We should not ignore the risks of AI affecting students’ mental health and wellbeing,” she cautioned, emphasising the need for eyes-wide-open innovation.

WISE’s Agenda

took the helm on December 1st, Dr. Kazmi plans to amplify WISE’s research and innovation work between summits. This includes the WISE Prize supporting frontline innovators, an accelerator programme for scaling solutions, and testbed work where teachers select and experiment with tools before recommending them to policymakers.

With 4,000-5,000 participants from 200 countries gathering every two years, WISE’s influence extends far beyond the summit itself. As education faces rapid digital advancement and geopolitical challenges affecting millions of children, Dr. Kazmi’s vision is clear: continuous innovation, informed by research, focused on equity.

“It might be a time when education does change substantially,” she reflected. “And that’s a very interesting time to be.”