# Speaking Canonical page: https://dominiklukes.net/speaking Talks, webinars, workshops and podcasts on AI, language and learning, with dates, venues, and links to recordings and slides where they exist. 67 listed, 3 with a recording and 6 with slides or a handout. ## Upcoming - **AI Thought Exchange, October meeting** (Talk · AI Thought Exchange, Online · Tue 20 Oct 2026 · 09:00–10:20 BST). Dominik opens the October meeting of the AI Thought Exchange with a short review of what happened in AI over the summer, followed by discussion with educators from the UK and Australia. His slot starts at 09:10 BST. The AI Thought Exchange is an international discussion group on AI in education. Registration link to come. - **The future of data in the age of AI Agents: New opportunities for old methods in data management and collection** (Talk · Oxford Data Meetup, Oxford Westgate Library, Westgate, Oxford · Thu 12 Nov 2026 · 18:00–20:00 GMT). We are at an inflection point in what transformation we can expect in the age of AI. Agentic AI systems are now capable and reliable in way that allows us to delegate meaningful work to them. In the second half of 2026 we now have access to AI agents that can not just reliably work with files on computers but also use existing tools across a data processing workflow that have only been available to very few. This creates new opportunities for working with large amounts of data, from organising and maintaining collections to carrying out analysis. It also makes best reproducibility practices much more within reach for busy researchers. AI agents powered by more capable models can also expand the range of possibilities as to what data we can aspire to collect and open up new methodological opportunities. This talk will outline key new tools and practice and illustrate their possible impact through several case studies. Registration link to come. - **What's new in AI this month?** (Webinar · MondAI Roundup, Online · Mon 16 Nov 2026, 12:30–13:30 GMT; Mon 14 Dec 2026, 12:30–13:30 GMT). A monthly roundup of AI news, with an RSS feed. [About the roundup series](https://ainewsroundup.pages.dev). - **From Oracle to Tool User: Amplifying research processes with AI agents** (Talk · Faculty of Music, University of Oxford (Methods and Methodologies for Music Research series), Faculty of Music Cinema · Tue 24 Nov 2026 · 11:30–12:30 GMT). Researchers get more from AI when they move from asking a chatbot for answers to using desktop agents that work with their files and tools. The lecture shows how agents can work with archives, organise data, write and adapt analysis code, improve literature searches and make research more reproducible. - **Four Years After ChatGPT** (Webinar · University of Oxford AI Competency Centre, Online (Microsoft Teams) · Mon 30 Nov 2026 · 17:30–19:00 GMT). Dominik's annual retrospective webinar for the University of Oxford AI Competency Centre. Topics: Agentic AI, Vibe coding, AI using computers, AI personal assistants, New industry cost structures. [Register](https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e3d4ac4f-a106-49ec-8181-fe2a1f66bf0a@cc95de1b-97f5-4f93-b4ba-fe68b852cf91). ## 2026 - **York Festival of AI: nine sessions** (Talk · York Festival of AI, York · 20 July 2026). - **Teaching During the Cognitive Revolution** (Talk · Education in an AI World, Jersey College for Girls, St Helier, Jersey · 26 June 2026). The emergence of Large Language Models (LLMs) has completely upset not only what we can expect of a computer but also how we view the role of technology in the process of learning. Now we have machines that can help at all stages of the learning process - they can not only help us manage cognitive load but also completely remove it. This talk will explore the roles AI can play in the learning process both from the perspective of the learner and the educator. It will explore the role of the LLM-powered tool not only as a productivity assistant, peer reviewer, or tutor but also as a toolmaker. [Slides and handout](https://cogrevteach.dominiklukes.net); [Event page](https://channeleye.media/events/education-in-an-ai-world/). - **AI as Tool Maker and Tool User for Less Commonly Taught Languages** (Talk · LLC workshop · 18 June 2026). [Slides and handout](https://handouts.fyi/ggdp). - **AI and Expertise** (Talk · FEDA Education Gala · 14 June 2026). [Slides and handout](https://handouts.fyi/xmtg). - **Language without structure? How can LLMs speak all the languages without knowing any of the rules?** (Talk · Wolfson College, OxfordXML seminar "Human Language Meets AI", Oxford · 30 April 2026). - **Panel at the OECD** (Talk · OECD · 6 March 2026). - **Wednesday Research Series** (Talk · Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Online · 25 February 2026). - **Seminar on AI and programming at the Mathematical Institute** (Talk · Mathematical Institute, Oxford · 20 February 2026). - **Panel on AI in education at Rhodes House** (Talk · Rhodes House, Oxford · 4 February 2026). - **Vibecoding as pedagogy: Transforming learning and teaching through making tools** (Webinar · AI Thought Exchange (AITE) · 27 January 2026). The question of AI in education is often reduced to debating about the impact of ChatGPT on the integrity of assessment. But AI in 2026 is not just ChatGPT and not just about what answers can be produced by a Large Language Model. One of the leading trends is the rise of agentic AI systems that can not only write snippets of code but build entire software systems or websites. This new approach to AI-assisted software development is often referred to as 'vibecoding' and it is this style of coding that is the focus of this talk. The webinar will outline the state of the art and its implications, looking at the key tools and the best ways for educators to approach getting to know them in order to integrate them into their work. [Event page](https://aithoughtexchange.org/2026/01/07/new-advances-new-ways-of-working/). - **Teaching during the Cognitive Revolution: What will learning and teaching look like in the age of AI?** (Talk · MPLS Researcher Conference, Oxford · 15 January 2026). The emergence of Large Language Models has disrupted expectations of computing and technology's role in learning. This session explores how AI can support learners and educators at every stage, from managing cognitive load to serving as productivity assistants, peer reviewers, tutors, and toolmakers. [Slides and handout](https://cogrevteach.dominiklukes.net); [Event page](https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/training/mpls-researcher-conference/parallel-sessions/session-3). - **Vibecoding for Language Teachers: Making apps for language learning with AI** (Workshop · AULC 2026, Rewley House, Oxford · 9 January 2026). This hands-on workshop introduces language teachers to AI-assisted coding ('vibecoding') as a powerful new avenue for creating language learning applications. Using Gemini and Google AI Studio, the session demonstrates how educators can design, prototype, and deploy simple apps without prior programming expertise. Beyond technical skills, the workshop invites critical reflection on the pedagogical possibilities enabled by AI-assisted app creation. [Slides and handout](https://ltvibes.techczech.net). ## 2025 - **Three Years After ChatGPT: From chatbots to agents and other trends on the frontier of generative AI** (Webinar · Microsoft Teams · 2 December 2025). Three years after the public launch of ChatGPT, the chatbot paradigm has undergone a transformation. The main mode of interacting with Large Language Models is no longer just a chat. This session steps back from day-to-day trends to look at how the landscape has shifted since 2022 and what the current frontier in what 'AI can do' and what 'we can do with AI' looks like. [Slides and handout](https://threeyearsafterchatgpt.dominiklukes.net). - **How LLMs Understand Text: Context and Meaning in the AI Age** (Talk · Kellogg College, Oxford, The Hub · 17 November 2025). Large Language Models represent an entirely new paradigm of semantic information processing. They are the first time a computer can process the meaning of text without mark-up. Their ability to 'understand' text is at the same time familiarly human and completely alien. This talk outlines how Large Language Models 'read' and 'understand' text, and how they generate their response, contrasting with how humans perform the same tasks. [Recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvfV8N7SwwY); [Event page](https://www.kellogg.ox.ac.uk/events/how-llms-understand-text-context-and-meaning-in-the-ai-age/). - **Vibecoding for Educators: How I built 30 educational apps in 30 days** (Talk · Cambridge Generative AI in Education Conference, Hilton Cambridge City Centre, Cambridge · 27 October 2025). [Event page](https://oerc.ox.ac.uk/ai-centre/ai-centre-events/cambridge-generative-ai-in-education-conference). - **OPP Summer Lecture** (Talk · Oxford · 2025). - **Session at OER25** (Talk · OER25 · 23 June 2025). - **Talk on AI at OxLearn** (Talk · OxLearn, Oxford · 25 February 2025). - **Leading on AI in Education: Bridging the Leadership Knowledge Gap** (Talk · ISE 2025 Education Technology Summit, Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain · 5 February 2025). This workshop will guide senior leaders in education through the essential steps of understanding the landscape of generative AI to enable better decision-making. Participants will explore the strategic implications of AI, address the current knowledge gaps, and develop continuous learning strategies to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving landscape. - **Two years after ChatGPT** (Talk · Bett 2025, ExCeL London, London · 24 January 2025). - **The future of tech is human: Redefining the role of educators in the wake of Industry 5.0** (Talk · Bett 2025, Innovation Theatre, London · 24 January 2025). [Event page](https://iscresearch.com/events/bett-uk-2025/). ## 2024 - **Two Years After ChatGPT: Reflections on The State and Future Directions of Generative AI** (Webinar · Microsoft Teams · 28 November 2024). On the two-year anniversary of the release of ChatGPT, this webinar reflects on the journey to today and the current state of generative AI with a focus on what has changed compared to our expectations in 2022, what has stayed the same and what we can see coming on the horizon. [Event page](https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e26dc23f-21fd-45ec-b40c-0c38309f2a8c@cc95de1b-97f5-4f93-b4ba-fe68b852cf91). - **What have Large Language Models actually learned about language** (Talk · Wolfson College, OxfordXML, Oxford · 26 November 2024). This talk will explore what exactly large language models (LLMs) have learned about languages, and why it matters. It will attempt an outline of an answer to how these models understand the structure of language, and how this compares to how humans think about language. To answer the question, it will look at how LLMs perform across a range of different languages, even those with smaller digital footprints, and what this implies about how they represent language. It will contrast the results from this investigation with the latest findings from the field of "mechanistic interpretability." These findings offer insights into the inner workings of LLMs, offering clues about the fundamental differences between how we understand language and how language is represented inside the models. Finally, it will suggest a need a new approach to LLM research that brings together a richer understanding of language and a systematic investigation into how LLMs perform across a variety of languages. - **Magical Meaning Machines** (Talk · Centre for Digital Scholarship, Weston Library, Oxford · 20 November 2024). This practical workshop will explore the opportunities for new kinds of digital scholarship in the humanities and social sciences presented by Large Language Models. It will present Large Language Models as a new kind of machine for processing semantic information in text with a completely new kind of capabilities and also new kinds of limitations. It will then explore what new opportunities these new machines present for digital scholarship based on practical examples. These opportunities lie not only in using Large Language Models as tools to assist with text data but also as a new kind of object to study. The workshop is focused on enabling scholars in the humanities to get started with using Large Language Models in their work - no prior experience or knowledge is required. It will combine brief explanations and case studies with hands-on activities. - **Workshop at Learning Impact Europe 2024** (Talk · 1EdTech Learning Impact Europe 2024, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain · 9 October 2024). - **Semantic Machines** (Talk · Digital Humanities Summer School, Oxford · 14 August 2024). The major breakthrough of generative AI and specifically Large Language Models is the ability to work with unstructured documents with no semantic mark up. Combined with broad cross linguistic capabilities, this has great potential for digital humanities across many disciplines. This paper will explore the capabilities and limitations for Large Language Models when it comes to dealing with unstructured text, the key tools available to students and researchers as well as prospects of future developments. - **Talk and panel on AI at Tsinghua University** (Talk · Tsinghua University · 20 March 2024). - **EdTech in Universities** (Talk · Bett 2024, UAE Pavilion, London · 25 January 2024). - **Building with AI in education: How to make your own AI apps using large language models** (Talk · Bett 2024, ExCeL London, London · 24 January 2024). Find out how tools built on large language models work and how you can make one for yourself or your students with or without code. Chatbots are not the only way we can use Large Language Models to help us. There are now many possibilities for educators to create useful tools for themselves and their students. Even for those who do not want to build their own tools, it is useful to develop some understanding how these tools are made. This session will break down the anatomy of an AI-based tool and explain how they are different from a chatbot, what role large language models play in how these apps work and what else their makers need to take into account. - **Will AI Change Education? Dominik Lukes from Oxford University | Innovantage Podcast** (Podcast · Innovantage Podcast · 2024 · 1hr 10min). A deep dive into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence, specifically focusing on its integration and impact on the education sector. We explore the significant roles of generative AI, including various tools and systems, aiming to demystify this transformative technology. [Recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b4v6xnRDLI). ## 2023 - **Invited talk at the European Educational Publishers Group conference** (Talk · European Educational Publishers Group conference, Turin, Italy · 2023). - **How to Teach and Learn with ChatGPT: AI and new horizons for assistive technologies** (Talk · Bett 2023, ExCeL London, London · 31 March 2023). - **ChatGPT is a Weird Linguist: What Should Language Teachers Know?** (Webinar · TILT Webinar (Association for Language Learning) · 2023). In this specialized talk for language professionals, LLMs are described as 'superpolyglots' but 'weird linguists.' While models like GPT-4 can translate between languages with high fluency, their acquisition method (reading the entire internet) is fundamentally different from human acquisition (embodied social interaction). [Recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irRvvoy0L1g). ## 2022 - **Hybrid Teaching: Hidden Skills and Knowledge Gaps** (Talk · Online conference organised by Nottingham University, Online · 2022). - **Supporting Teachers to Support Students: Misaligned Incentives** (Talk · Media&Learning Conference 2022, Leuven, Belgium · 2022). - **Speech Recognition: Art of the Possible** (Organised · Digifest 2022 · 2022). ## 2021 - **Learning innovation showcase: Workshop on new technologies to support reading productivity** (Talk · Becoming Well Read, online conference organized by Keele University, Online · 2021). - **Innovations in Reading and Writing** (Talk · ALT 2021, online conference, Online · 2021). ## 2020 - **12 Questions About Instructional Videos** (Talk · Media and Learning Conference · 2020). - **What do we know about effective educational videos: Insights from theory and practice** (Webinar · iSpring webinar · 2020). - **What we can learn from user experience design to make learning technology more inclusive** (Talk · ALT Online Summer Summit 2020, Online · 2020). ## 2019 - **What do we mean by 'pedagogy' in 'pedagogy first'** (Talk · ALT Winter Conference 2019 · 2019). - **Use of Videos in MOOCs** (Talk · Media&Learning Conference 2019, Leuven, Belgium · 2019). - **Use of Video in Higher Education: Theory and Practice** (Organised · Oxford · 2019). - **The Rise of Video in Higher Education and Corporate Training** (Talk · Devlearn 2019, Las Vegas, United States · 2019). - **How YouTube revolutionised learning** (Talk · Digifest 2019, Birmingham · 2019). ## 2018 - **Oxford HIVE and Webinars** (Talk · ALT Conference 2018, Manchester · 2018). ## 2016 - **Using online corpus for literacy teachers** (Talk · BDA International Conference, Oxford · 2016). ## 2015 - **Czech without aspect: Marrying functional schemas with functional representations** (Talk · Slavic Cognitive Linguistics, Oxford · 2015). - **Have the licensing talk early to maximise impact** (Talk · OER 2015, Cardiff · 2015). - **Literacy and Technology, Special Session** (Organised · IISA 2015, Corfu, Greece · 2015). ## 2014 - **Reading on e-readers, tablets and phones: Hardware and software for inclusive literacy** (Talk · EICE Manchester · 2014). ## 2013 - **Frames, scripts, scenarios, models, spaces and other animals** (Talk · Cognitive Futures, Bangor · 2013). ## 2012 - **What every Learning Technologist should know about accessible documents** (Talk · ALT Conference Manchester · 2012). - **Helping Moodle users with print disabilities** (Talk · MoodleMoot, Dublin, Ireland · 2012). ## 2011 - **CiviCRM: The Community Advantage** (Talk · CiviCRM Conference, London · 2011). - **Open Source Curriculum and a Community-Based Accreditation Scheme for Drupal** (Talk · DrupalCon, London · 2011). ## 2010 - **Dyslexia Symposium** (Organised · London · 2010). ## 2008 - **Who's in charge?: Text, cognition, socialization and the freedom of spirit** (Talk · CADAAD'08, Hertfordshire · 2008). - **Markets, Local knowledge and Centralized Justice: Frame Negotiation in Educational Policy Discourse** (Talk · Language, Culture, and Mind, Copenhagen, Denmark · 2008). - **Critical Approaches to Discourse Analysis Across Disciplines: CADAAD 2008** (Organised · University of Hertfordshire · 10 June 2008). - **Open Source Community Models for Supporting Educational Practice** (Talk · JISC/HEA workshop, Norwich · 2008). ## 2007 - **Epistemology of the Educational Case Study** (Talk · British Educational Research Association Conference, London · 2007). - **Drupal for Academics and Educators** (Talk · Drupalcon07, Barcelona · 2007). - **Discourse-level constructions and frame analysis of policy discourse: Case of evaluation of university teaching** (Talk · ICLC 10, International Cognitive Linguistics Conference, Kraków, Poland · 2007). - **The Market Metaphor in Education** (Talk · University of Sheffield, Sheffield · 2007). ## 2006 - **Drupal Goes to College: Designing a Drupal Website for a University Department** (Talk · Drupalcon'06, Brussels, Belgium · 2006).