Developing AI for Human Learning – Dr. Kelsey Urgo (University of San Francisco)

AI tools are everywhere now, promising to help us write, solve, understand, and create faster and more easily than ever. But there is a growing concern: Are these tools actually helping us learn, or just making it look or feel like we know something? Can we develop AI systems to support deep human learning? Truly useful systems don’t just give answers, but help us to build metacognitive skills to think critically, reflect, and adapt as we learn. Our Wonderfest speaker, Dr. Kelsey Urgo, is Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of San Francisco. This event took place in Marin County, California, on September 30, 2025. The host was Tucker Hiatt, Wonderfest's founding director. The video was edited by Wonderfest Science Editor, Neeti Sonth. Our introductory music, "Wonder Song," was composed and performed by Jack Conte. Please visit the online home of nonprofit Wonderfest, the San Francisco Bay Area Beacon of Science, at wonderfest.org .