“ These constructs, defining the importance of primary source information and general intellectual curiosity, are critical parts of the Saint David’ s classical foundation that had such a positive impact on my early learning.”
the capacity to learn new things, flexible modes of analysis— are precisely those that are likely to be eroded by inserting AI [ too aggressively ] into the educational process.” Not only will tech advances make it easier to“ seem to be,” or to project depth when there is superficiality, but it will make it easier for young students and professionals alike to succumb to shortcuts that create temporary ease but deferred harm. To underscore this point, Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon recently published a study that found that popular AI tools“ may diminish critical thinking” and“ can produce authoritative-sounding errors and misinformation” that undermine learning.
It is my belief that grounding young men and women in an education that fosters intellectual curiosity,“ rigorous academic pursuit, deliberate moral introspection and critical analysis of ideas and issues,”( Saint David’ s Mission Statement) is what will allow them to be rather than to seem. In other words, however ironically, the very skills needed to excel in an AI environment, both in school and afterwards, are those that are core to Saint David’ s classical education. Michael Clune notes in his piece that,“ students must be able to ask AI questions, critically analyze
“ These constructs, defining the importance of primary source information and general intellectual curiosity, are critical parts of the Saint David’ s classical foundation that had such a positive impact on my early learning.”
its written responses, identify possible weaknesses or inaccuracies, and integrate new information with existing knowledge. The automation of routine cognitive tasks also places greater emphasis on creative human thinking.” These are the pieces of my time at Saint David’ s that I am most grateful for, the foundational aspects of education that taught me to think creatively, structure arguments and look at problems through multiple lenses. This came as much from the teachers as it did from the well-roundedness of the experience – working on the Atom Project in science class stretched a very different part of the brain than writing a reflection on my visit to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence during the eighth grade Italy trip – or winning or losing a baseball game to a rival with grace for that matter. To be clear, this is not a techno-skeptic meditation, on the contrary I believe emerging tools will allow young men and women to achieve things that take them to dizzying heights. However, I also believe that, paradoxically, one of the things that will make them most skillful in leveraging those very tools has nothing to do with them. It will be, at least in part, the classical foundation that Saint David’ s represents that renders them a tool, not a crutch.
To paraphrase words from St. Augustine that are particularly apt – if you wish to build a tower that pierces the clouds, lay first the foundation. •
Erik Alfieri’ 09 with his wife, Madeleine.
Articles References: https:// www. theatlantic. com / ideas / 2025 / 11 / colleges-ai-education-students / 685039 / https:// www. nytimes. com / 2026 / 01 / 02 / technology / school-ai-chatgpt-estonia-iceland. html https:// www. microsoft. com / en-us / research / wp-content / uploads / 2025 / 01 / lee _ 2025 _ ai _ critical _ thinking _ survey. pdf
Erik Alfieri’ 09, Deerfield Academy’ 13 and Georgetown University’ 17, is Chair of the Saint David’ s School Alumni Council.
Summer 2026 • 47