Can We Outsource Thinking? AI, Education, and the Future of Knowledge Work

AI is changing how we write code, conduct research, build software, and learn new skills. But where does human expertise still matter?

In this episode of The Data Playbook, Kris Peeters sits down with Frank Neven, Professor of Computer Science at Hasselt University and Vice Director of the Data Science Institute, to explore how AI is reshaping data engineering, education, and scientific research.
Frank shares insights from leading database conferences, discusses how universities are adapting their teaching models, and explains why understanding remains more important than ever in an age where reasoning can be outsourced to AI.

They discuss:

• How AI is changing data engineering and database systems

• Why agentic coding is transforming software development

• The difference between outsourcing reasoning and understanding

• How universities are adapting to AI-powered learning

• Human-AI collaboration in research and scientific discovery

• Why data quality, semantics, and structure matter even more in the age of LLMs

• What data leaders should learn from the latest database research

For data leaders, CIOs, CDOs, and engineering teams, this episode offers a practical perspective on where AI is creating real leverage, where human expertise remains essential, and how organisations can prepare for the next wave of AI-driven change.