Artificial intelligence is reshaping classrooms, offering new tools for teachers and learners while raising urgent questions about ethics, equity and access.
Once confined to science fiction, AI is now a daily presence in schools, relieving teachers of repetitive tasks and tailoring lessons to individual students. At Alpha School in Texas, an AI tutoring programme has doubled learning gains and halved study time. Such examples demonstrate how AI can personalise education, functioning like a recommendation engine that adjusts in real time.
But concerns are growing. Teachers report rising mistrust as students use AI to produce work, fuelling what some call a “digital cold war” in classrooms. Systemic bias is another risk. From gender discrimination in recruitment to racial disparities in healthcare, AI can mirror and magnify existing inequalities. The OECD’s 2023 Digital Education Outlook warns of a growing “educational Grand Canyon” between those with access to digital tools and those without.
Global bodies are taking note. In a 2025 document on AI ethics, the Vatican urged tighter regulation, warning of the technology’s power to spread misinformation and destabilise societies, including in schools. Practical strategies are emerging. Experts advise starting small with transparent AI tools, auditing regularly for bias, and ensuring teachers remain central to the learning process. Equipping students with AI literacy and training teachers to use AI responsibly are seen as key steps toward equity.
Higher education is also evolving. Micah Shippee, Director of Education Solutions at Samsung Electronics America, compares AI’s role in universities to the “Pencil Moment” — a quiet revolution making technology a seamless part of learning. AI-driven whiteboards now transcribe lectures, generate quizzes and improve participation. But Shippee also notes AI’s darker side in cybersecurity, highlighting the need for vigilance even as new tools are adopted.
Human connection still matters. No algorithm can replace the well-timed joke or moment of encouragement from a teacher. As schools embrace AI, they must combine ambition with caution, ensuring technology enhances rather than diminishes the human experience of learning.
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