Wisdom Factories: AI, Games, and the Making of a Modern Worker

Artificial intelligence (AI) is threatening the need for human expertise, but it is no match for human wisdom. The problem is that learning wisdom requires very different schooling.

Are you worried about AI? You should be. But, not only because of student cheating, AI errors, or propaganda on steroids. The ascendence of AI doesn’t end with today’s chatbots. Within years, not decades, it will do nearly all the expertise work that has defined occupations and driven schooling. AI-compatible work will use our wisdom, but wisdom is learned in an entirely different way from what conventional education systems are equipped to provide. Students are currently set up to compete with AI, not work alongside it, and they will most certainly lose that battle.

Dr. Tim Dasey has been part of the AI world since the 80s when machine learning was born. Over thirty years at MIT Lincoln Laboratory he engineered and led AI developments for national defense, homeland security, transportation and logistics, biomedical, public health, and disaster management applications that are sprinkled through the book’s narrative. He’s an unusual sort of AI guy, with training in neuroscience and psychology that allows him to see the commonalities and differences between machine and human learning. He witnessed the amazing power of games as wisdom learning tools by using them for a decade to tease out decision processes in many fields.

In Wisdom Factories: AI, Games, and the Education of a Modern Worker (June 2023), Dr. Dasey takes readers on a transformative journey that delves into the future capabilities of AI, the underlying principles of wisdom, and the necessary strategies for transformation. He provides insights into why this AI wave differs from previous technological advancements and challenges the notion that technical expertise alone is sufficient for the future work world.

Dr. Dasey includes captivating narratives including how AI is creating AI, what future jobs will look like, and how experiential learning through games is a key pillar of learning wisdom skills. He uncovers a crisis in education that requires major transformation, whereas the educational community is talking about tweaks. He shows that the structure and attitudes of conventional education hinder the growth of wisdom. Critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills—essential elements of wisdom—are best nurtured through unconventional methods that go beyond routine knowledge instruction. Unfortunately, the current system stifles the development of wisdom.

Education reform is urgent because AI advances rapidly, while humans and our institutions evolve slowly. The time to catch up is dwindling, and without wisdom, workers risk obsolescence in a rapidly changing job market. Bold action is imperative.

About the Author 

Dr. Tim Dasey is a highly accomplished thought leader and author with a wealth of expertise in AI, neuroscience, psychology, and education research. It is his ability to integrate these diverse perspectives that has led him to develop the groundbreaking rationale behind his acclaimed book, Wisdom Factories.

Driven by a profound dedication to serving society, Dr. Dasey has intentionally shifted his focus from creating AI to guiding people through the challenges posed by this transformative technology. With a remarkable background in decomposing complex national security problems into practical technological solutions, he possesses a unique talent for conveying cutting-edge advancements to non-technical audiences. His thinking has long been hidden behind the national security curtain, but not anymore. Wisdom Factories exemplifies the unconventional thinking he became known for in his long MIT career.

Throughout his illustrious thirty-year tenure at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Dr. Dasey spearheaded numerous research and development projects across a wide range of disciplines, including AI, gaming, biotechnology, system analysis, software development, and human-machine teaming. Tim has experience teaching and mentoring in corporate, government, higher education, and K-12 school settings, and is skilled at relating complex topics to non-specialist audiences. His insatiable appetite for learning has kept him abreast of the latest insights in psychology, neuroscience, education, and leadership research.

Dr. Dasey's expertise, honed through decades of experience and a passion for interdisciplinary learning, positions him as a distinguished authority in the field. His contributions have made a lasting impact on our understanding of AI, paving the way for transformative advancements that have the power to shape our future.