Memorization In The Age Of AI

When I was a child, the way to measure if someone was a good student was by giving exams that graded, for better or for worse, a student´s ability to memorize. And I wasn´t one of those. That's why I have always been critical of any countries' education system, because they are based on a storage and retrieval model of facts, dates, formulas, and names. I was forever bad at memorizing. Just like today, success in school  equals  holding a vast library of knowledge in your head to then access it on demand, proving your intelligence through a test that rewards recall.

But I believe that era is over. The profound impact of powerful AI is changing all of this. This technology will change everything. One of the conclusions, widely supported by educators, business leaders, and futurists, is that "soft skills" are now to become even more important and determinant of success. 

The Irresistible Force of AI

Economically, the case is clear. Automation and AI are becoming extraordinarily efficient at performing the very tasks our old curriculum was designed to teach. They can sort through data, calculate complex equations, and retrieve information with a speed and accuracy no human can match. The value of routine, information-based tasks is plummeting.

As this happens, businesses are already restructuring to focus on roles that require skills AI cannot replicate. The future workforce will not be valued for what they know, but for how they think, create, and interact. This is why the new emphasis on human concepts is a necessary evolution for our survival and success in an AI-powered world.

These "un-Googleable" skills are the uniquely human elements that machines, by their nature, cannot possess…well ah, not yet. Anyway,

• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: A computer can process data, but it can't feel empathy or build trust. The ability to understand and connect with others, to lead a team with inspiration, and to navigate complex human relationships is beyond the scope of any algorithm.

• Critical Thinking and Ethical Reasoning: AI can provide a solution, but it cannot question its own assumptions or weigh the ethical implications of its actions. That requires a human mind to step back, analyze, and make a judgment. The most important problems of the future won't be about data; they'll be about human collaboration and ethical dilemmas.

• Creativity and Innovation: While AI can generate novel ideas based on existing data, true innovation often comes from uniquely human insight, intuition, and the ability to connect disparate concepts in a way that creates something entirely new.

A New Paradigm for Education

The goal of education is no longer to create a "walking encyclopedia." It is to cultivate emotionally intelligent, creative, and adaptable individuals who can thrive alongside, and with, the power of AI. This shift means that our focus must move from the what to the how and the why.

Instead of simply memorizing historical dates, students should be learning why an event unfolded as it did and how human behavior shaped its outcome. Instead of just learning scientific facts, they should be taught how to use those facts as a foundation for analysis, problem-solving, and innovation.

This new paradigm calls for a complete rethinking of how we assess and grade students. Memorization-based tests will likely be replaced by assessments that measure a student's ability to:

• Solve complex, real-world problems.

• Work effectively in a team.

• Communicate ideas clearly and persuasively.

• Demonstrate emotional intelligence and resilience.

• Think critically and ethically about new technologies and challenges.

This is not just a personal belief; it's a widely discussed and supported theory. Education systems worldwide are beginning to embrace this reality, with moves towards more project-based learning and collaborative work. This is an intentional effort to prepare students for a world where their value isn't based on what they can recall, but on what they can create, how they can adapt, and how they can lead.

The future of education isn't about shunning technology. It's about a powerful and necessary partnership between human and machine. It's about using the power of AI to handle the rote tasks, freeing us up to focus on the things that make us uniquely human. The time has come to cultivate a new generation that is not just knowledgeable, but also empathetic, creative, and resilient; ready to build the future, one human connection at a time.

Thanks for reading. Abrazos.

Diego Rojas