LILA ~ Learning Innovations Laboratory at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

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LILA 2025-2026 Theme: Resilience in the Age of AI

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We are living through a period of rapid and relentless transformation—geopolitically, socially, and
technologically. Among the forces reshaping our world, generative AI stands out for its profound impact
on how we work, learn, and lead. AI is rapidly evolving from a set of tools to a powerful set of systems
that shape strategy, augment learning, and inform decision-making. These technologies offer new
capacities for learning, collaboration, and prediction, while simultaneously redefining roles,
relationships, and what it means to be human at work.

In this context of mounting complexity, uncertainty, and fatigue, resilience is no longer just a personal
trait—it is an essential strategy and practice, evolving alongside the intelligent systems that are rewiring
our environments in real time. The challenge before us is not simply to withstand disruption, but to
harness and adapt to it. Resilience is about the ability to prepare for (readiness), withstand and manage
(response), and recover/grow from (resurgence) disruptions. All three are interconnected stages that
together define and strengthen resilience in various contexts. This year, we will explore what fosters
resilience at every level—individual, team, and organization—in a world where learning, adaptation, and
decision-making are increasingly augmented by AI.

This theme will explore questions such as What does it take to thrive when intelligent machines are part
of our workflow? How can we design cultures and learning ecosystems that foster agility and
intentionality? What new demands does this place on leadership as AI transforms our assumptions
about expertise, efficiency, and collaboration? Together, we will draw from two powerful lenses—the
transformative potential of AI and the enduring need for resilience—to examine how organizations can
bend without breaking, adapt without losing their core, and continue to grow while the ground shiNs
beneath them.

Harvard Graduate School of Education