Ethical AI to Amplify Creativity and
Cultivate Human Potential

OpenAI alum and Yale writing professor Jay Dixit teaches universities how to harness AI to amplify human creativity — without outsourcing the thinking.

Book Jay

Watch Sample Talk

OpenAI’s Jay Dixit speaking at Wharton about ChatGPT as a tool for creativity. (Hint: Don’t ask AI to be creative — ask it to help you be more creative.)

My Philosophy: AI should amplify human creativity — not replace it.

From My Work at OpenAI

How My Socratic Questioning Approach Inspired ChatGPT’s New Study Mode

Spring 2024: Interviews with Writers and Educators

Inspired by my interviews with writing community members like Stew Fortier and Ken Liu, I begin exploring how to use AI to ask questions instead of just providing answers. The idea is simple: Flip the script and let AI ask the questions for a change.

Summer 2024: I Develop the Socratic Framework

I refine the “Socratic approach” through conversations with novelists, screenwriters, and writing professors. My radical idea: Rather than ban AI, we should teach students how to use AI to challenge and deepen their thinking.

Fall 2024: I Publish My Student Guide

I document my approach in the Student Writing Guide I publish on OpenAI.com in fall 2024, providing examples and strategies for educators and students.

AI Should Amplify Thinking, Not Replace It

My philosophy — that “productive struggle” is important to learning and that students should “use AI as a tool, not an answer machine” — becomes central to OpenAI’s education messaging.

August 2025: Inspiring a New Product

My Socratic approach leads to the development of a new product: ChatGPT Study Mode. Designed to foster deeper understanding, Study Mode asks Socratic-style questions and offers step-by-step guidance instead of quick answers. (Just to be clear: A “tutoring mode” — “Hey ChatGPT, teach me about ionic bonds” — was already in the works. The Socratic questioning was my contribution.)

Study Mode Launched

With the launch of Study Mode, “Socratic-style questions” become a core feature of ChatGPT — bringing my educational approach directly into the product that tens of millions of students now use every day.

A New Approach to AI in Education

In education, the focus is often on policing, detecting, and preventing AI misuse. Few are teaching students how to use AI well — ethically, responsibly, not as a shortcut but as a tool to challenge and deepen thinking.

I guide people on how to use AI in ways that nurture critical thinking, support the creative process, and help us surface our best ideas — without outsourcing the curiosity, creativity, and self-expression that make us human.

Outsourcing the writing:
“Here’s my assignment. Generate a draft for me.” ❌

Outsourcing the thinking:
“Suggest a nuanced thesis statement I can use.” ❌

Socratic AI:
“Ask me tough questions to help me clarify my argument.” ✅

ChatGPT conversation showing Socratic AI approach

About Jay

Students Are Using AI to Avoid Thinking. Here’s My Solution.

Meet Jay Dixit

Jay Dixit is a leading voice in ethical AI education and the creator of the “Socratic AI” framework — a human-centered approach that reframes AI not as a shortcut to outsource thinking, but as a tool to amplify human creativity.

OpenAI Leadership

As Head of Community for Writers at OpenAI, Jay spearheaded efforts to guide writers, educators, and students on ethical AI use. His framework has been adopted by Harvard, Wharton, Babson, Simon Fraser University, and California State University.

Distinguished Writing Career

Award-winning writer and Yale professor whose work appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Harvard Business Review, and Psychology Today. Conducted George Carlin’s final interview and won The Moth storytelling competition.

Educational Impact

Led AI literacy workshops at Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, and The Poynter Institute. Authored OpenAI’s flagship education resources and defined key messaging presented by CEO Sam Altman.

Proven strategies that transform how institutions use AI.

Ethical AI Framework

Developed the “Socratic AI” approach that frames AI as a thinking partner, not a shortcut — preserving human creativity while amplifying our capabilities.

Measurable Impact

Trained 200+ educators and impacted 10k+ students across universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Wharton with practical AI strategies.

Award-Winning Expertise

Award-winning journalist for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and more, bringing storytelling expertise to AI education.

Custom AI Policy Development

Helps organizations develop clear AI policies and workflows that nurture creativity while maintaining ethical standards and human-centered learning.

AI Literacy Training Programs

Learn concrete strategies for integrating AI into workflows and curricula that boost productivity while maintaining educational integrity.

Socratic AI’s 5 Principles for Students

01 Think Beyond Academic Integrity

Move past the simple “cheating vs. not cheating” binary. Academic integrity is the bare minimum — students need guidance on using AI to challenge their thinking and deepen their learning.

02 Define Your Educational Goals

College isn’t just about getting grades and credentials. It’s about developing the intellectual skills you’ll need to thrive in an uncertain future. So think about the kind of person you want to be when you graduate — and what you need to do to get there.

03 Don’t Outsource the Thinking

Use AI to challenge and deepen your thinking, not replace it. Think of AI not as a shortcut, but a thinking partner that questions, probes, and pushes you to articulate your best ideas.

04 Do the Hard Parts Yourself

Growth happens in moments of “desirable difficulty.” Don’t retreat to AI when things get hard — that’s when the learning happens.

05 Be Thoughtful About Your Choices

Used thoughtfully, ChatGPT can make you smarter. It’s all about how you use it. So make a point to use it in ways in ways that make you a stronger scholar, thinker, and writer

Jay Dixit teaching and guiding educators

Services

How I Can Help Your Institution

I help educators turn AI from an academic threat into an intellectual ally — helping organizations harness AI's potential while preserving human learning and creativity.

Keynote Speaking

Engaging talks for universities, companies, and conferences that transform how people think about AI, combining stories, research, and live demos.

Faculty Development

Comprehensive training programs that help educators redesign assignments, develop AI policies, and create meaningful learning experiences in the age of AI.

Curriculum Consulting

Strategic guidance on integrating AI literacy across disciplines while maintaining academic integrity and promoting critical thinking skills.

Student Workshops

Interactive sessions that teach students the “5 Principles” framework for using AI ethically and effectively to expand their thinking and deepen their learning.

Policy Development

Help your institution craft nuanced AI policies that go beyond simple “don’t use it” rules to create guidelines that support learning.

Research Collaboration

Partner with your team on AI education research, bringing real-world expertise to academic inquiry and publication.

The “Socratic AI” Philosophy

A human-centered approach that reframes AI not as a shortcut to outsource thinking, but a sounding board and iterative thinking partner to amplify human creativity and help us surface our best ideas.

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Harvard • Wharton • Columbia

🎯

Proven Methodology

✨

Ethical AI Approach

Speaking

Signature Talks

Transformative sessions that help educators and institutions navigate the AI revolution with confidence and clarity.

Writing in the Age of AI

Keynote reframing AI as a thinking amplifier — perfect for faculty summits, ed-tech conferences, and leadership retreats.

How to Use ChatGPT Ethically & Effectively

Hands-on workshop covering prompting strategies, disclosure forms, and the Socratic AI framework for responsible AI use.

Designing AI-Resilient Assignments

Turn memory checks into reasoning workouts and safeguard learning integrity with practical classroom strategies.

AI in Education: From Cheating to Curiosity

Real classroom strategies that turn AI into a springboard for critical thinking rather than a shortcut to answers.

Amplifying Creativity with AI

Stories of writers and artists using AI to push imagination while keeping the creative process fundamentally human.

Ethical AI for a Human-Centered Future

Practical frameworks for responsible AI use that aligns with transparency, fairness, and human values.

Using AI with Integrity

Custom strategies for organizations to harness AI thoughtfully — boosting productivity while fostering creativity.

Creative Brainstorming with AI

Techniques like reverse interviewing and analogy generation to spark fresh ideas and innovative solutions.

AI Literacy for Teams

Half-day introduction that demystifies AI and builds confident, skilled users across your organization.

“Jay’s approach to AI in education is transformative. He doesn’t just teach tools — he teaches thinking.”

ED — Education Director, Leading University

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about AI education consulting, speaking engagements, and the Socratic AI approach to ethical technology integration.

What makes the "Socratic AI" approach different?

“Unlike approaches that use AI as a shortcut, Socratic AI frames technology as a thinking partner. Instead of asking AI to write for you, you ask it to challenge your ideas, surface blind spots, and help you think more deeply about your work.”

How can I book Jay for a speaking engagement?

Most faculty development workshops are booked 2-3 months ahead, though Jay can sometimes accommodate shorter timelines for smaller sessions. Email jay@socraticai.co with your preferred dates and he’ll respond within 24 hours.

What institutions has Jay worked with?

“Jay has delivered talks and workshops at Harvard, Columbia, Wharton, The Brown Institute for Media Innovation, California State University, and The Poynter Institute. He’s trained over 200 educators and impacted more than 10,000 students.”

How do you help universities move beyond merely banning and policing AI use?

“Jay works with universities and organizations to craft nuanced AI policies that go beyond simple restrictions. These policies provide clear guidelines for ethical use while encouraging innovation and learning.”

What's included in faculty development workshops?

“Faculty leave with 5+ AI-resistant assignment templates, a rubric for evaluating student AI use, and specific prompts they can teach students. They’ll know how to turn any essay prompt into a critical thinking challenge.”

How do you teach students to use AI without becoming dependent on it?

“Students learn the ‘5 Principles’ framework: Think beyond plagiarism, define your goals, don’t outsource thinking, do hard parts yourself, be thoughtful about choices. They practice with real assignments until ethical AI use becomes automatic.”

200+

Educators Trained

50+

Speaking Events

10k+

Students Impacted

25+

Universities Served

Ready to Transform Your
Institution?

Let's work together to harness AI's potential — all the while preserving human learning and creativity.
Schedule a consultation today!