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Generative AI (GenAI) is transforming the landscape of adult education by equipping educators and learners with innovative tools to create, preserve, and share knowledge. In projects like HER[AI]TAGE, GenAI is used to record and revitalize intangible cultural heritage, enabling communities to safeguard local traditions and ecological wisdom for future generations. By generating digital illustrations, transcribing oral histories, and producing interactive content, GenAI helps make heritage accessible, engaging, and relevant, especially for those often excluded from mainstream educational narratives.

The HER[AI]TAGE project, supported under the Erasmus+ KA210-ADU programme, stands at the forefront of this transformation. Through its upcoming digital archive and e-learning platform, the project demonstrates how GenAI can preserve endangered stories and environmental knowledge shared by senior citizens. By capturing these oral histories and representing them with AI-generated visuals and audio, HER[AI]TAGE bridges generational divides and promotes intergenerational learning – empowering both educators and community members to explore cultural identity in new ways.

Across Europe, initiatives such as GenAIEdu and IBM SkillsBuild are equipping adult educators with the competencies needed to harness GenAI ethically and effectively. These programmes offer practical training on integrating AI tools into adult learning environments – covering everything from responsible data use to creative content generation. By joining Erasmus+ projects or engaging with Erasmus+ platforms like ALL DIGITAL Academy, educators can upskill themselves, develop best practices, and lead their communities in the responsible adoption of AI.

Integrating GenAI into adult education directly supports European Union priorities of cultural diversity, environmental sustainability, digital inclusion, and civic engagement. GenAI enables the creation of accessible educational materials for diverse learners, supports the documentation of vulnerable cultural knowledge, and encourages active participation in environmental stewardship. The responsible and creative use of AI in education fosters not only digital literacy, but also critical reflection on the ethical, cultural, and environmental dimensions of technology.

As digital transformation accelerates, adult education providers are called to embrace GenAI as both a practical and visionary resource. By exploring and piloting GenAI-driven projects, participating in European networks, and fostering intergenerational dialogue, educators and learners alike can help ensure that Europe’s rich heritage and local wisdom continue to inspire and inform a sustainable, inclusive future. The HER[AI]TAGE project invites everyone – educators, learners, and the wider public – to take part in this evolving story of innovation and preservation.

Be sure to follow us in order to discover more about how the HER[AI]TAGE project is leveraging generative AI to connect communities, preserve heritage, and inspire lifelong learning across generations.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.