Hardly a keynote, workshop or boardroom discussion goes by without someone asking me the same question: “Where do we start with AI?”

Whether I am speaking to school leaders, teachers, business owners or senior leadership teams, the technology is rarely the biggest barrier.

Confidence is.

AI shows up when we are searching online, writing emails, planning holidays, creating presentations, supporting learning and lots of other places…in fact everywhere. AI is increasingly becoming the invisible assistant that sits alongside us.

The question is no longer whether people will use AI.

The question is whether they understand it well enough to use it wisely.

That is why I believe AI literacy is becoming one of the most important life skills of our time.

As someone who works across both education and industry, much of my current work focuses on AI Across the Curriculum, helping educators and organisations understand how AI can be used meaningfully, responsibly and with confidence.

AI literacy is about thinking, not just technology

There is a common misconception that AI literacy is a technical skill. I see it differently. It is becoming a life skill. Just as digital literacy evolved beyond knowing how to use a computer, AI literacy extends beyond knowing how to use an AI tool. It includes understanding how AI systems are created, recognising where bias may exist, questioning the reliability of AI-generated content and knowing when human judgement should take priority. UNESCO’s AI Competency Frameworks place a strong emphasis on people using AI responsibly, ethically and critically, recognising that successful participation in an AI-enabled society requires more than technical knowledge.

But understanding AI is only part of the picture, the real value of AI literacy lies in what we do next.

AI can help us generate ideas, summarise information and solve problems more quickly than ever before. Yet every AI-generated response still requires human judgement.

That is where critical thinking comes in.

Critical thinking has never been more important

One of the questions I often ask audiences is whether AI has made critical thinking less important or more important.

Initially, there is usually a pause.

Then the discussion begins.

Most eventually conclude the opposite of what they first expected:

AI hasn’t reduced the need for critical thinking.

It has made it even more important.

For example, imagine two pupils using AI to research climate change.

One copies the first answer they receive.

The other asks:

• Where did this information come from?
• Is there another perspective?
• Can I verify this elsewhere?

Both have used AI.

Only one has demonstrated AI literacy and critical thinking.

AI Literacy should start early

AI is not just changing technology lessons. It is influencing every subject, every profession and almost every industry. AI literacy cannot sit within one lesson or one qualification. It should become part of how learners explore ideas, evaluate information, solve problems and make informed decisions.

Education and Industry have a shared responsibility

Preparing young people – and adults – for an AI-enabled world is not the responsibility of schools alone. Employers, universities, parents and technology companies all have a role. Those of us working between education and industry also have a responsibility to translate emerging technologies into practical understanding while keeping human skills at the centre of learning.

Throughout this Future Skills series, I’ve explored quiet builders, future-proofing careers and the skills that matter from classroom to industry.

AI literacy brings all of those conversations together.

• It is not another subject to squeeze into an already crowded curriculum.
• It is not another workplace buzzword.
• It is becoming a fundamental life skill.

And if we truly want to bridge education and industry, then helping people develop AI literacy – with curiosity, confidence and critical thinking – must become one of our shared priorities.

How do you think AI literacy should be developed – in schools, in the workplace or throughout life? I’d love to hear your thoughts.