ALT AGM

From Tool Maker to Tool User: How AI 2026 reshapes the space of possibilities for learning technology

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ALT AGM

From Tool Maker to Tool User: How AI 2026 reshapes the space of possibilities for learning technology

Dominik Lukes · AI Competency Centre, University of Oxford

About me

Learning technologist to AI technologist

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Key trends in AI today

Capability Models keep improving, and new versions arrive every few weeks.
Agents AI now does the work, not just answers the question.
Speed of progress Capabilities of models and agents are acccelerating software
Increase in ambition You can take on bigger and more complex projexts and tasks
Price Full capability now costs $100 to $500 a month, not $20.

New versions every few weeks

Release timeline for OpenAI GPT and Anthropic Claude

Each release moves the scores

Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index across selected model versions

What this means for planning

Any assumption we make about "AI can do" is likely to be out of date soon.

By the end of this year, the least important thing you will be able to do with frontier AI systems will be getting chatbots to answer questions, but this is still how most people will think of “AI.” Expect cognitive dissonance as a result.
Dean W. Ball, Among the Agents, 2026

From chatbot to agent

AI as oracle

Ask a question; get an answer.

AI as tool maker

Ask for code, a chart or a small app.

AI as tool user

It uses files and software to finish the task.

What makes an agent useful?

A chat can tell me how to fill in an expenses form.

An agent can find the form, search for receipts in emails, calculate totals, process receipts and fill in the form.

Agent definition

Model using tools in a loop to achieve complex tasks that require multiple steps.

The agentic loop

HarnessSends instructions / results to model

ModelMakes a plan

ModelSend commands to harness

HarnessPasses command to computer

ComputerExecutes command and returns to harness

Tools Agents can use

Search files
Search web
Command commands
CLI tools
APIs
Other models
Custom scripts
Browser
Applications 🆕

Delegation of complex tasks requiring planning and judgement

I need to wrap up my work on the York workshops. Pull up any emails about expenses and all the forms they sent. Look at where I have done expenses in the past. Be ready to do the expense report for me.
My prompt