Thinking in Tandem – What is Intelligence in the Age of AI?
Artificial Intelligence can be a great thought partner. As generative AI becomes increasingly integrated into our personal and professional lives, its value lies not in replacing our thinking, but in reshaping it. This session invites participants to explore how AI can extend human potential—enhancing how we learn, create, and make decisions—when used with intention and care. Drawing on practical examples from teaching, leadership, and analytics, we’ll examine what it means to be truly AI-literate: understanding what AI can do, what it can’t, and how to remain critically engaged in the process. Far from dumbing us down, AI challenges us to sharpen the very skills we value most in experiential education—problem framing, critical thinking, and persuasive communication. In an age where frictionless access to information is a given, the differentiator is not what we know, but how we think. Join us as we rethink intelligence—not as a solo endeavor, but as a dynamic partnership between humans and machines.
Shannon McKeen
Executive Director of the Center for Analytics Impact; Professor of the Practice, School of Business | Wake Forest University
Shannon McKeen is a Professor of Practice and Executive Director for the Center of Analytics Impact at Wake Forest University’s School of Business. His work focuses on data science, experiential learning, and professional skills development. Shannon has taught at UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, and Dartmouth College. Prior to academia, he spent 30 years in industry as a consultant and executive in sales and marketing, including roles at Price Waterhouse Coopers and Hanesbrands.
Education:
B.S. in Computer Science, Williams College
MBA, The Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College
Shannon is originally from Maine and has lived in Winston-Salem, NC for 30 years with his wife, Karen. He has two adult children.
