After the Algorithm

This week I attended the Future of Media Education: After the Algorithm, a rich and necessary conversation hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences at American University of Sharjah.

This one-day symposium brought together thought leaders from academia and industry to reflect on how we prepare the next generation of media professionals in a world shaped by AI, algorithms, and platform power.

Standout moments included powerful insights from Dr. Hassan Dawood (Alsayegh) and Dr. Massimo Leone (University of Turin), who challenged us to reconsider what it means to be human, creative, and original in the age of automation.

Much thanks to my former Zayed University colleague Dr Zoe Hurley for the kind invitation to attend and be part of this important conversation.

One takeaway that stuck: “Creativity and intelligence are no longer rare. What matters now is attention, perspective, and purpose.”

The future of media education starts with rethinking roles, resisting reduction, and grounding the human in what can’t be coded.