Learning at the Speed of Light: A Conversation with Michael Moe

From Educate AI

Mar 31, 2025

Read the original piece on Educate AI

The intersection of AI, Human Intelligence (HI), and Innovation is reshaping education, workforce development, and global competitiveness at an unprecedented pace. Few understand this better than Michael Moe, founder of ASU+GSV, the premier summit convening the world’s top minds in education and technology. I had the privilege of sitting down with Michael to discuss the current state of learning, the AI adoption gap, the skills of the future, and the role of innovation in driving productivity and opportunity.

Chaos or Dynamic Opportunity?

Angelo: If you had to describe the current state of education and the workforce in one word or phrase, what would it be—and why?

Michael: It’s two sides of the same coin: chaos and dynamic. Chaos, because the world is changing at an unprecedented pace, creating anxiety and uncertainty. Dynamic, because that same change represents enormous opportunity. AI is the catalyst for this transformation—it’s the most exciting time of our lifetime. But it’s also daunting. The challenge is in how we harness the chaos and convert it into innovation and ‘compounding’ progress.

The AI Acceleration Equation

Angelo: Last year, you described the equation: Time Dividend x Knowledge Explosion = Innovation Explosion. Has this played out as expected? What has changed?

Michael: The fundamentals haven’t changed, but the realization of their impact is still developing. AI has created an enormous time dividend, allowing individuals and businesses to focus more on creativity, strategy, and execution. But it hasn’t yet fully transformed productivity in a way that is evident at scale. We are in a transitional phase where innovation is about to hit an exponential curve. The world hasn’t seen it yet, but it’s coming—and fast.

Bridging the AI Adoption Gap

Angelo: Despite AI’s potential, many institutions and companies remain hesitant to adopt it, and, in some cases, view with urgency. What’s holding them back?

Michael: Fear, inertia, and lack of understanding. AI is changing the game, and with that comes uncertainty. Many organizations don’t know ‘how’ to integrate AI effectively, and some are simply waiting to see what happens. But waiting is not a strategy. The companies and institutions that figure out how to harness AI—those that embrace it rather than resist it—will have a significant advantage.

Angelo: As AI takes on more tasks and greater indirect cognitive load, how do we ensure that essential human skills—creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration—aren’t lost?

Michael: It’s not man versus machine; it’s man and machine. AI should be seen as an augmentation tool, not a replacement for human intelligence. The best outcomes will come from “multiplication by division,” where AI handles tasks it excels at—automation, data processing, repetitive workflows—while humans focus on uniquely human capabilities like leadership, creativity, and critical thinking. The key is designing education and workforce systems that emphasize both.

Skills That Will Define the Future

Angelo: Employers increasingly value skills over degrees, or as you referenced in last year’s keynote “knowledge over college.” What are the most critical future-proof skills?

Michael: I call them the Seven Cs:

Critical Thinking – The ability to analyze and solve complex problems.
Communication – Expressing ideas clearly and persuasively.
Creativity – Thinking outside the box and driving innovation.
Collaboration – Working effectively with diverse teams.
Civics – Understanding societal structures and responsibilities.
Character – Integrity, ethics, and resilience.
Cultural Fluency – Navigating global and diverse environments.

Measuring AI’s Impact on Productivity

Angelo: Josh Bersin says, “The company with the greatest productivity advantage wins.” What should organizations measure to gauge AI’s impact?

Michael: Outputs matter more than inputs. Historically, we’ve measured education and workforce success with outdated proxies—degrees, test scores, years of experience. But the real metric should be productivity per person, innovation per person, and value creation per person. Companies and institutions must start tracking tangible outcomes: how AI enhances efficiency, how employees leverage it to 4x or 10x their output, and how it translates to innovation and revenue growth.

The Global AI Race

Angelo: AI is at the center of global competition. Who will lead in the coming years?

Michael: It’s not a zero-sum game. AI innovation benefits everyone. That said, China has been aggressively investing in AI for years, and the U.S. has traditionally led in innovation. The real wild card is India, which is integrating design thinking into its education system at scale. The UAE is also making massive AI investments, with G42 emerging as a powerhouse. The key question isn’t just who leads, but who applies AI in the most impactful and sustainable way.

The Future of ASU+GSV

Angelo: The ASU+GSV Summit is a much-anticipated congregation of thought leaders, movers, shakers, discussions, and exchanges, each year. What’s next for ASU+GSV, and what key takeaway should attendees expect this year?

Michael: Our theme is Learning at the Speed of Light. The big idea is bending the curve on human capability. Technology is advancing exponentially, but human learning has historically been linear. We need to accelerate human adaptation to keep pace. This year’s conference will focus on actionable frameworks for making that happen—real-world applications of AI in education, workforce development, and productivity.

The 2025 Crystal Ball

Angelo: Fast forward to December 31, 2025—what will have most excited, surprised, or frustrated you?

Michael: AI’s integration into everyday life will be deeper than we anticipate today. We’ll see a significant shift in how skills are assessed, with performance-based evaluation overtaking traditional credentials.

Companies will realize that soft skills—creativity, leadership, adaptability—are the true differentiators. What will frustrate me? If institutions and companies fail to act with urgency and let bureaucratic inertia slow down necessary transformation.

Final Thoughts: What’s Inspiring You Right Now?

Angelo: What book or idea is currently influencing your thinking the most?

Michael: Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s about the history of human networks and how information, communication, and technology shape societies. I don’t agree with everything he writes, but it’s thought-provoking. It’s making me reflect on how AI and human intelligence will evolve together in the years ahead.

As AI reshapes our world, the challenge is clear: How do we integrate AI without losing the essence of what makes us human? Michael Moe offers a compelling vision—not just for the future of AI, but for the future of human intelligence.

The time to act is now. The question is, who will lead the way?

Join the conversation at ASU+GSV 2025 and explore how AI and HI are redefining learning, work, and innovation.

About Michael Moe

Michael Moe is the founder and CEO of GSV Holdings (GSV), a growth-focused investment platform based in Silicon Valley. GSV has invested in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, Snap, Lyft, and Spotify. Prior to GSV, he co-founded and was CEO of ThinkEquity Partners LLC, a growth-focused investment firm. He was voted to be on the Institutional All American Research Team and named “Best on the Street” by the Wall Street Journal while heading Global Growth research at Merrill Lynch. He is the co-founder of the ASU GSV Summit, a conference in the education sector that Forbes called the “Davos of Education”.

Michael is the founder of GSV University and GSV MBA, an accredited graduate program for entrepreneurs. He has authored two books, “Finding the Next Starbucks” and “The Global Silicon Valley Handbook,” with his third book “The Mission Corporation…Contemporary Capitalism” released in February 2021.

About the Interviewer

Angelo Biasi is an Ed/Workforce/HRTech Leader, Founder, and certified ScalingUp Coach who has committed most of his career to reimagining teaching, learning, and assessment on a global scale. He recently acquired the award-winning Solvably platform and founded Credably.ai, establishing the first evidence-based, active learning and authentic, AI-powered assessment solution for education and workforce, based on “performance.” For more, visit: www.angelobiasi.com, www.solvably.com, and www.credably.ai.