The way we teach students, from classroom structures to teaching methods and standardized instruction, has not changed much over human history. Despite schools, colleges and mass education becoming more important for social cohesion and economic development than ever, teaching has stayed remarkably consistent even as other sectors and institutions have been transformed by computers and smartphones.
If properly deployed, AI-powered education tools could deliver high-quality, personalized learning at a global scale. But realizing that potential will require a coordinated effort from educators, institutions, policymakers, and technology providers.
Around the world, education systems are stretched thin. In both wealthy and low-income countries, teachers are having to do more with fewer resources. In the U.S., schools are struggling to recruit and retain staff amid a persistent shortage of math, science, and special education teachers. In emerging economies, student populations are expanding far faster than the supply of trained educators.
At the same time, as the economy continues to evolve at a dizzying speed, there are concerns that teachers and schools could struggle to keep up. Current curricula may not fully prepare students for the skills needed in an AI-driven job market, potentially leaving some young people and mid-career workers underprepared. Teachers could also be left feeling unprepared as they navigate increasingly diverse classrooms, with students from a broader range of cultural backgrounds and learning needs, often without receiving sufficient training.
AI could change that. It could provide instant feedback on student work and deliver the responsiveness of one-to-one tutoring, which traditional classrooms have not been able to deliver at scale.
The automation of routine tasks like grading and administrative work can also free educators to focus on the human parts of teaching: mentoring, motivation, curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking. AI could thus empower and amplify the impact of teachers, rather than replacing them.
For students, learning will no longer be shaped by the accident of birth—where they live, the school they attend, or the resources available to them—but instead by their access to high-quality, personalized learning. In effect, AI holds the potential to help narrow the gap between those with access to the best teachers and schools and those without. While previous edtech developments have not fully closed this gap, AI could offer meaningfully new possibilities.
Early signs suggest that AI-enabled approaches can improve learning outcomes at scale and at lower marginal cost than traditional models.
Parents and teachers often express concerns about introducing more screens into the classroom. However, the challenge lies not in the presence of screens, but in ensuring that technology does not isolate learners. When thoughtfully implemented, AI tools have the potential to enhance dialogue, feedback, and interaction, complementing personalised attention rather than replacing it.
Trust and governance will be essential if AI is to succeed in education. Teachers need to have confidence in the tools they are asked to use. Student data must be protected, and governments must retain control over curricula and standards.
Yet while privacy, transparency and cultural inclusion are critical, they can’t be reasons to delay progress. Instead, these should be challenges to address through policy as governments and education leaders work to integrate AI into the teaching process.
At the same time, there is a growing recognition that advanced economies might benefit from shifting their focus from merely transmitting information, a task machines increasingly perform well, towards fostering creativity, adaptability, and lifelong learning. While AI tools could support this transition, they should be seen as part of a broader educational strategy that includes traditional human-centred learning approaches.
This is not a distant prospect: AI-enabled teaching technologies are already being deployed and are advancing rapidly. The countries and societies that choose to embrace them early, and govern them wisely, will be best positioned to lead in the decades ahead.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
