The human need behind AI
Highlights
- Bachelor of Information Technology graduate Liam New co-authored a research paper into AI support in the classroom.
- The research, as well as Liam's own sentiment based on his studies so far, is that AI is helpful but can't replace human critical thinking.
- ACU Associate Professor Walayat Hussain, co-author of the same research paper, points out Liam's journey as an example of going beyond formal coursework to prepare for a future career.
Artificial intelligence is opening new possibilities in education, technology and the workplace.
But as Liam New’s journey shows, understanding and using AI effectively requires more than simply knowing what the technology can do – it also requires human curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.
His recent achievement offers a timely example.
Liam is a member of ACU’s AI for Decision Excellence (AIDX) Lab – a research space that gives students the chance to work alongside academic researchers on real projects.
It was here that he contributed to a research paper examining the use of AI learning agents in education.
The paper found that Large Language Models (LLMs) – such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude – can offer helpful support in the classroom.
The achievement is significant not only because of the research itself, but because Liam was a key author so soon after studying a Bachelor of Information Technology at ACU.
ACU Associate Professor Walayat Hussain, Director of the AIDX Lab and co-author of the same research paper, said it best when he said, “Liam’s journey provides another excellent example of how these opportunities can support students beyond their formal coursework and help them develop skills and achievements that can strengthen their future careers”.
An eye for AI
Liam’s interest in AI began during the final year of his IT degree, when a work integrated learning (WIL) and capstone project introduced him to software development alongside modern AI infrastructure.
That experience sparked a deeper interest in the potential of AI and in the responsibility that comes with using it well.
Liam sees AI as a powerful tool for helping students become more proactive learners, giving them access to information and explanations across almost any topic.
But he also recognises that technology should support education, rather than replace the thinking required to understand it.
“The benefits to education with AI are for hands-on learners who can proactively use AI to learn about any topic,” Liam says.
“The negative is relying only on AI as a form of education, as it will significantly reduce critical thinking.”
From coursework to published research
The research paper that Liam co-authored examined how effectively these AI agents can help school students in K-12 education.
And rather than looking at whether they can produce technically correct answers, the researchers developed an Education-Technical-Behavioural (ETB) Evaluation Framework.
This framework assesses three areas: the quality of the teaching and learning support, the system’s technical performance and how appropriately it interacts with students and teachers.
It found that the four AI models (ChatGPT-5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Gemini 3 and Claude Sonnet 4.5) tested in the ScienceSpark AI system performed well.
“All models produced accurate, syllabus-aligned content, effective quizzes, personalised feedback and robust multimodal resources,” the researchers noted in the paper.
“Observability and explainability were consistently strong.”
However, the paper also stresses that AI should support teachers and students, not replace them.
“The findings indicate that well-designed agentic LLM systems can enhance, rather than replace, human pedagogy by supporting co-agency, transparency, and inclusive teaching practices,” the paper summarised.
Building the next big idea
Liam is now working on a range of apps and startups.
He has just released his first mobile application on the Apple Store called Tagworth, which helps users identify the value of their items they are looking to sell.
And eventually, Liam wants to be working on even bigger projects.
“I hope to successfully create a startup of my own,” he says.
For students considering a career in technology, Liam’s experience offers a great example of where an IT degree can lead.
Published 2026