I replaced traditional coding tests with real conversations about how my students solve problems using AI.

Embedding AI as a collaborative thinking partner completely transformed how I assess my data mining students.

Instead of spending hours grinding through coding syntax, they use Gemini in Google Colab as a personal tutor. While the AI suggests code and alternatives, students must decide what to use, question the suggestions, and justify final modelling decisions.

This creates a meaningful form of human–AI teaming. Because AI can increasingly produce a working model, what matters is whether students can exercise judgment over the AI supporting them. I conduct verbal interviews where students defend their choices, troubleshoot and identify where AI's recommendations may be incorrect. Behind the scenes, Gemini Canvas and Gemini Notebook help me evaluate this work at scale.

Balancing my roles as a professor and Chief Digital Officer, my core belief remains: we aren't replacing learning with AI, but intentionally redesigning it to build lasting human capability rather than tech dependency.