Maven CEO insists daily reading remains essential despite AI adoption

Kate Ryder, chief executive of healthcare company Maven, maintains that daily reading is non-negotiable for her children, even as the company integrates artificial intelligence into its operations. Ryder stated during a recent appearance on the CNBC Changemakers podcast that while AI is transforming business models, it cannot replace the foundational skills required for independent thought.

Maven has faced significant internal pressures regarding AI deployment. Ryder reported that the company exhausted its full-year AI budget well before December 2026. Despite these costs, she said the firm has not yet realized an overall return on investment from its AI initiatives. However, Ryder noted tangible administrative savings, citing specific workstreams that previously cost up to $200,000 annually but now cost as little as $2. Additionally, she stated that AI is now responsible for writing all of Maven's code.

Ryder's perspective on AI was shaped by a meeting approximately three years ago at a founder event hosted by Sequoia, one of Maven's investors. The event featured Greg Brockman of OpenAI and the CEO of Amazon Web Services. Ryder recalled asking the executives to explain why the current AI development was not merely a hype cycle. She said they described the exponential improvement in model capabilities, convincing her that the transformation would be sustained.

In her personal life, Ryder draws a clear line regarding how her children learn. As major school districts, including New York City, ban AI use for students below high school grade levels due to cheating concerns and declining test scores, Ryder enforces a strict policy on active learning. She told her children that reading every day is the primary method for becoming an independent thinker. Ryder emphasized that students must understand character development, empathy, and narrative complexity to maintain critical thinking skills.

National data underscores the urgency of this approach. The National Assessment of Educational Progress found that 40% of fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders scored below the Basic reading level. Harvard University's Education Scorecard reported that students remain nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic reading performance nationwide. Only five states and the District of Columbia recorded meaningful gains in reading achievement between 2022 and 2025.

The educational landscape is shifting as AI tools become more prevalent. RAND Corporation research indicated that 54% of students reported using AI for school in 2025, while a separate survey found that 62% of young people ages 12 to 29 had used AI for homework by the end of that year. In 2025, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT's Study Mode, designed to guide students through problems step by step rather than providing direct answers. A 2026 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper examined Khan Academy's AI tutor, Khanmigo, in Tennessee middle schools. Students using the tool saw math-achievement gains of about 1.3 national percentile ranks per term, which researchers noted resembled progress made using existing video practice without AI assistance.

Ryder applies her own background as a writer to her family's use of technology. She allows AI to draft emails but writes all important content herself first before using AI for review. During a recent trip to France, she used AI to help explain the history of Napoleon's hunting lodges to her children, describing the tool as a guide that makes historical stories feel more real. She views this usage as a positive bridge between parenting and teaching.