Paul Truax on Why Getting Answers Isn’t the Same as Understanding

In this thought-provoking episode, Paul Truax—Founder of Cognify Learning Company—joins Stephen Walther to explore the difference between getting answers and actually learning in the age of ChatGPT. Truax, an advocate for lifelong learning, shares insights on how AI can both empower and erode the human capacity for understanding if used uncritically.

From Instant Answers to Deep Learning

Truax argues that while tools like ChatGPT provide unprecedented access to information, they also tempt us to bypass the cognitive struggle that creates real comprehension. Learning, he explains, is not about retrieving facts but about wrestling with uncertainty, forming connections, and applying knowledge in new contexts.

The Cognitive Cost of Convenience

The discussion turns to the hidden costs of AI-driven convenience. When every question can be instantly answered, students and professionals risk losing the metacognitive habits—reflection, synthesis, critical comparison—that define genuine expertise. Truax suggests that educators and leaders must intentionally reintroduce friction into learning: pausing to question AI outputs, challenging assumptions, and encouraging explanation rather than regurgitation.

Designing AI for Lifelong Learners

Drawing from his work at Cognify Learning Company, Truax describes how AI can be designed to prompt curiosity instead of passivity. Rather than handing over polished conclusions, AI tutors could guide users through reasoning steps, model inquiry, and adapt to the learner’s evolving understanding. This reframing transforms AI from an “answer machine” into a cognitive companion that supports lifelong learning.

Reclaiming the Human Role in Education

Truax emphasizes that the human role in education is not to compete with AI’s encyclopedic memory but to cultivate judgment, creativity, and moral reasoning. He envisions a future where teachers, mentors, and leaders use AI not to replace human thought but to amplify our capacity to think deeply.

Key Takeaway for Educators and Innovators

The episode closes with a challenge: to see ChatGPT not as a shortcut to knowledge but as a tool that, when used wisely, can strengthen the very habits of thought that define learning. In Truax’s words, “Getting answers is easy. Understanding takes work—and that’s where the real learning happens.”