An Outdoor Educator’s Survival Guide to AI Chaos and Uncertainty
Pete Tupper
Today I’m not going to persuade you to integrate more AI tools into your outdoor work, nor suggest that you change your career and become a tech expert. My goal with this presentation is to embolden you to stay true to who you are as an outdoor educator and everything that you love about it. We’re going to explore why this is the moment lean into the outdoors more so than ever and have confidence in the sustainability and relevance of our industry.
Among the top fears of the dangers of AI is the theory that most people will lose their jobs. While there is good reason to believe this true of many occupations, today we look at why outdoor education might be one of very few exceptions to this pattern.
In a future world where everything is automated, online, virtual and static, what is there left for us to do? My answer: do more of what we originally evolved to do as humans – explore and move amongst nature, together with others. These are instincts that are not going away.
As the need increases for people to get back outside and have adventurous experiences in order to stay mentally and physically healthy, the general public are simultaneously forgetting how to craft these adventures for themselves. The relevance of outdoor guides, educators, adventure organisers and others in the industry is more apparent each year as this pattern unravels.
How do we know AI won’t replace outdoor educators in the same way it may for so many other lines of work? Because what we do is fundamentally the antithesis of Artificial Intelligence. It is Natural Intelligence.
We emphasise, develop and enjoy everything that is natural about the pursuits. As soon as it becomes artificial, it is no longer in the domain of what we do. We work with offline, local knowledge, dynamic environmental conditions, and human connection. These are the rare elements that even the AI safety experts agree may hold onto their relevance in the human world even when AI can do everything else.
After exploring some of the key arguments and research on this topic, I also suggest that students could more seriously consider the outdoor world as a source of stable careers in the uncertain future ahead. The conclusion is essentially a message of optimism and hope for our industry and line of work.
Lastly, I invite volunteers up to the front to participate in a debate to ensure we cover various perspectives and encourage further thinking on the topic.
About Pete
Pete Tupper is the founder of Imagine, an outdoor school trips company with branches in Japan, Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Thailand. Originally from the UK, Pete moved to China after graduating in Chinese Language to set up Imagine. Initially using his ski instructing background to develop school ski trips, he then developed original survival curriculums and other adventure activities. With an emphasis on designing activities with a unique and creative twist, he has expanded and diversified the Imagine network over the last 11 years with the support of teams and partners in each new region.
Imagine now provides a vast range of adventure trip services to international schools, kids and corporate groups in Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and around East/South East Asia.
Pete currently lives in snowy Niseko, Japan in winter where he oversees Imagine’s school ski trips. The rest of the year he splits his time between the existing Imagine locations and new adventure destinations, always excited about the infinite possibilities for new programs.
Pete is also the host of the AMP – Adventure Management Pod, a podcast dedicated to discussions on outdoor education, hosted by Pete and featuring guests from around the industry.
Pete is passionate about the effects of outdoor activities on personal development and is on a mission to help as many people as possible reduce screen time and rediscover the benefits of adventurous lifestyles. In the age of AI, Pete is increasingly passionate about how we stay relevant and unique as humans and how outdoor education is crucial in fostering that element of our existence.
