2024 Opening Keynote: AI Changes Everything

AI is changing the very nature of work, impacting all sectors globally. In education, it is already being used widely by learners and will change what we learn, why we learn and how we learn. The data shows that GenAI is used extensively in the workplace as well as workplace learning. Donald will show data on adoption and productivity gains, as well as some projections. Donald will, using real, examples explain why AI is different from previous learning technologies along with evidence for its application in learning.

Donald Clark

CEO, Wildfire Learning

Donald Clark is a Learning Tech Entrepreneur, CEO, Author, Researcher, Blogger and Speaker. He was CEO and one of the original founders of Epic Group plc, which established itself as the leading company in the UK online learning market, floated on the Stock Market in 1996 and sold in 2005. He has been involved at all levels of investment – angel, VC, growth, PE and IPO. As well as being the CEO of Wildfire an AI learning company, he also invests in, and advises, EdTech companies.

An investor and board member of learning companies such as Cogbooks (sold in 2021 to Cambridge University) and Learning Pool (sold 2021 for $200 million), he was also on the Boards of City & Guilds, Learn Direct, University for Industry and the Brighton Dome and Festival. He has published 5 books, on AI for Learning (1st & 2nd editions), Learning Experience Design, Learning Technology and Learning in the Metaverse. Alongside these he has completed a series of articles on over 250 learning theorists from the Greeks to the Geeks and over 30 podcasts derived from these articles.

Donald has over 40 years’ experience in online learning, video, games, simulations, adaptive, chatbot, social media, mobile learning, virtual reality and AI projects. He has designed, delivered and advised on online learning for many global, public and private organisations.

His interest in AI started at Dartmouth College in the US, continued in Expert Systems in the 1990s and in adaptive learning company CogBooks in 2013, also Learning Pool. He founded the world’s first AI content generation company ‘Wildfire’ in 2014 and has been involved in several major AI for Learning companies and projects.

An evangelist for the use of technology in learning, he has won many awards, including the first ‘Outstanding Achievement in E-learning Award’ and ‘Best AIM Stock Market Company’, ‘Most Innovative Online Product’, ‘Best Online Learning Project and ‘JISC EdTech Award’. Neon Elephant Award from Will Thalheimer and this year the Edufuturists Outstanding Achievement Award.

An award winning speaker at national and international conferences, he has delivered keynotes in the UK, Europe, US, Africa, Australia, Middle and Far East. Last year he spoke in Singapore, Senegal, South Africa, US, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Spain and Portugal.

...also a regular blogger (15 years+) on learning technology.