Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly making its way into classrooms worldwide, with schools and governments investing heavily in AI-powered educational apps. However, experts warn that these tools may be creating more problems than they solve.
The education technology (Ed Tech) industry saw explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, as remote learning became the norm. Since schools reopened, Ed Tech companies have increasingly incorporated AI into their products to regain investors’ interest, with major players like Microsoft, Meta, and OpenAI promoting their own AI solutions for education.
Governments from the UK to South Korea are rolling out AI-based tools, including apps to assist teachers with lesson planning and marking. However, UNESCO and other experts have raised concerns about the impact of these technologies on education, citing data misuse, biased algorithms, and a lack of focus on genuine learning outcomes.
UNESCO’s Manos Antoninis has criticised the push for AI in education, suggesting it often prioritises profit over student welfare. “I think the unfortunate thing is that education has been used as a bit of a Trojan horse to access future consumers,” he said.
Despite these warnings, some countries are pressing ahead. Britain has launched Sparx Maths, an AI-powered homework app, and China has integrated AI into its national education strategy. Yet in practice, issues such as connectivity gaps in developing countries and dissatisfaction among parents in wealthier nations reveal a more complicated picture.
Many educators argue that AI’s focus on personalisation might overlook the importance of social learning. Critics believe that AI risks isolating students rather than enhancing collaborative education.
The enthusiasm for AI in education has not been universally shared. A Pew Research Center poll found that only 6% of US secondary school teachers believe AI will improve education. Similarly, in France, plans for an AI-powered homework app were quietly shelved.
As experts caution against over-reliance on AI, they emphasise that the success of education still depends on human interaction.
