NEW in Toronto: AI and Education: Seeing the Potential

Brains and Barstools brings captivating professors to Toronto bars for vivid lectures that spark curiosity and connection over drinks. To mark 1 year of Brains and Barstools, we're bringing back some of our popular lectures that sold out within minutes earlier in the year. On Nov 16, we present : "AI and Education: Seeing the Potential Through the Disruption" by Prof. Steve Joordens, PhD. Few people understand the psychology of learning quite like Professor Steve Joordens — and even fewer are as ready to rethink it. In "AI and Education: Seeing the Potential Through the Disruption", Joordens brings his award-winning teaching experience and deep understanding of human cognition to a question shaking classrooms everywhere: What happens to education when AI can think — or at least, appear to? Professor Steve Joordens is an award-winning educator and 3M National Teaching Fellow, recognized as one of Canada’s most innovative voices in higher education. His career bridges the science of learning and the art of teaching — from cognitive psychology to the design of educational technologies. Today, Joordens is leading efforts to explore how artificial intelligence can be used to enhance learning, rather than replace it. In this new reality, almost any assignment can be completed by AI, and traditional exams lose their meaning. But instead of mourning what’s been lost, Joordens argues that the disruption of AI, he argues, might finally push us to abandon outdated traditions and build a system that truly reflects how people learn, grow, and engage with knowledge. Sharing the stage with Virtual Steve and Alicia — two conversational AI agents he’s developed to support and assess student learning — he offers a glimpse into a future where educators don’t compete with AI, but collaborate with it. The result? A vision of education that’s more dynamic, more personal, and maybe even more human. 📅 Date: November 16, 2026 🕡 Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM 📍 Location: Reid's Distillery 🎤 Speaker: Prof. Steve Joordens, PhD Join us for an evening of thought-provoking ideas, wonderous moments, lively conversation, and a drink in hand. 🎟 Seats are limited! Early bird tickets available for a limited time.