AI and culture
Welcome back! In this episode, we’re exploring a thought-provoking question: What makes a school more than just a place of learning? And who better to help us unpack this than Tony Feghali, an entrepreneur, educator, and tech innovator who believes that school culture is just as important as academics.
Through his TEDx talk at SJS Cornet Chahwan Youth, Tony takes us on a journey into the DNA of a school—its traditions, values, and the invisible threads that shape students long after graduation. But here’s where things get interesting: Tony envisions a future where AI becomes the guardian of school culture, ensuring that these traditions don’t fade over time.
School culture: More than just academics
At the start of his TEDx talk, Tony does something unexpected—he asks the audience to close their eyes and remember their school days. The friendships, the struggles, the moments that left a mark. He then shares a personal story from his own childhood:
A fifth-grade spelling bee. The word? Skyscraper. In front of a crowd—including girls from another school—he froze and misspelled it. But as embarrassing as it was, the memory stuck with him, shaping his understanding of self-worth, resilience, and school culture.
And that’s exactly Tony’s point: school isn’t just about what we learn—it’s about how it makes us feel, the traditions we inherit, and the unspoken rules that define our experiences.
The three pillars of school culture
So what makes up the DNA of a school? Tony breaks it down into three core values:
Faith comes first
In a world dominated by technology, Tony emphasizes the role of faith—whether spiritual, ethical, or philosophical—as an anchor for students. An interesting perspective coming from a tech entrepreneur, no?Shared meals build community
Something as simple as eating together fosters connection. Schools aren’t just places of learning; they’re spaces where relationships grow, and traditions form.The power of one more try
Resilience is everything. Tony ties this idea back to his spelling bee failure—how a single moment of embarrassment can either hold us back or push us forward. Schools should teach students to keep trying, keep failing, and keep growing.
The challenge: Can AI preserve school culture?
But here’s the problem: school cultures change, and sometimes fade. Teachers leave, traditions are forgotten, and the essence of a school can slowly disappear.
So Tony asks a bold question: What if AI could help preserve school culture? Imagine an AI that knows every tradition, every story, every defining moment of a school’s history. An AI culture-keeper that ensures core values don’t get lost with time.
Enter BatrosAI, Tony’s vision for a digital guardian of school identity.
Batros AI: The digital guardian of school DNA
Tony envisions BatrosAI as more than just a knowledge bank. It’s a mentor, a tutor, and a spiritual guide who interacts with students to keep the culture alive. To illustrate this, he tells the story of two students:
Braheem, a shy, reserved student.
Hala, a popular and outgoing girl (who he has a crush on).
BatrosAI suggests that Braheem start a podcast club, even guiding him in setting up a mini radio station. What happens next? Braheem steps out of his comfort zone, connects with his peers, and becomes a voice within his school community. Hala becomes the first guest on his podcast, marking a turning point in his journey.
But Tony’s point isn’t about matchmaking through AI (although, let’s be honest, that would be fun). It’s about how technology can empower students to carry school traditions forward in new and creative ways.
A cautious optimism: Can AI shape the future of education?
Of course, not everyone is convinced AI should play this role. Could AI become too rigid? Could it fail to adapt as schools evolve?
Tony acknowledges these concerns and doesn’t advocate for blindly trusting technology. Instead, he challenges us to take ownership of how AI is developed, ensuring it enhances rather than replaces human connection.
His call to action?
Schools should be intentional about shaping their culture rather than letting it fade.
We shouldn’t just be consumers of AI—we should be its designers, making sure it aligns with human values.
