AI in Schools

➡️ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SCHOOLS - Opportunities & Challenges

The use of AI in education is no longer a vision of the future – it is a reality. Governments across the world are either in discussions to implement AI concepts or have already done so.

In a recent study from the UK (The Sutton Trust), 62% of all teachers had used AI tools in the past month to supplement their teaching. Private schools are three times more likely than state schools to have a clear strategy for its use.

UNESCO, while cautioning the need for an inclusive and human-centred approach to the use of AI in education, also recognises that it "has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today, innovate teaching and learning practices, and accelerate progress towards SDG 4."

Jump straight to our resources on ➡️ AI in Schools

Explore our comprehensive guides on -

• Artificial Intelligence in General

• The Benefits & Dangers of AI

• The Need for Greater Regulation of AI

• The EU AI Act

• Digitalisation in Schools

• Education & Schools in General

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Benefits of AI in the Classroom

A key argument for the use of AI in schools is the individualised support it can provide for students. According to a survey by the Vodafone Foundation, 73% of students viewed AI positively, particularly as it makes it easier to learn at their own pace and according to their individual abilities.

Imagine a classroom where every student's learning experience is tailored to their unique needs. AI can analyse each student's progress, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and adapt lessons in real-time to optimise learning outcomes. This analysis of performance also allows teachers to identify those who need extra support and intervene early.

Teachers are not replaced but empowered. If AI is used to handle administrative tasks and data analysis, educators will be under less stress with a reduced workload, allowing them to do what they do best.

One of the greatest benefits of AI is the vast amount of resources which is suddenly at our fingertips. With proper training, educators can use AI to support lesson planning, create engaging presentations, and provide creative visuals.

AI Tools for Educators & Students

• Canva - Allows teachers to create images, videos, and presentations quickly with thousands of templates, images, and graphics to choose from.

• MagicSchool - Helps to create multiple-choice quizzes and tests, generates assessment questions based on specified topics, and produces personalised feedback for students.

• Learnt.ai - Helps teachers to set homework tasks, to create lesson plans, and aids with keeping learning engaging, for example, with ice breakers and short educational games.

• Content at Scale - AI Detection Tool – Whilst it is very difficult to detect AI 100% of the time, this tool is highly recommended for detecting plagiarism and whether AI was used either partially or in whole to write a text.

• Eduaide - A lesson development tool that provides high-quality instruction materials with a handy translator feature. Its 'teaching assistant' can write emails, create discussion prompts, and generate individualised education plans.

• Educhat - A writing coaching tool for students that helps them to brainstorm, organise their ideas, and gives instant feedback

• Grammarly - Teachers can use this writing tool as a co-pilot to help them correct students' work and provide feedback.

• Loora - An AI English tutor that provides personalised conversations, adapts to students' knowledge, and provides real-time feedback.

• Bettermarks - An AI teaching and learning platform for mathematics. It is designed as a replacement for worksheets and textbooks, and provides personalised exercises, making math more engaging and efficient.

The Dangers of Emerging Technologies Without Regulation

Currently, less than 10% of schools and universities have formal recommendations on AI. This emerging technology has developed fast, and its capabilities are still not fully understood. Educators and students alike are already using AI in unplanned ways, without guidance, and with the potential for unintended consequences.

The deliberate use of AI by students to complete homework or coursework is a huge concern. The vast majority of students (68%) confess that they have used AI writing tools such as ChatGPT in their work. As the use of AI is still difficult to detect, teachers resort to total bans rather than finding ways to integrate its appropriate use into learning.

The risk that AI may stifle learners' creativity and their ability to develop essential writing, arithmetic, and problem-solving skills is very real. Over-reliance on AI technologies can make students lazy and uncritical. AI literacy is paramount to ensure that students have the skills to fact-check, form educated opinions, question sources, and provide their own ethical judgment. They must also understand key issues such as algorithm bias and accountability.

It is important to consider the psychological implications, most of which are not yet fully understood. If students are constantly forced to compete with highly intelligent AI systems, this can, over time, lead to stress and weakened self-esteem. Students will no longer develop the ability to edit, self-correct, and handle criticism as digital tools provide the 'perfect answer' at the push of a button.

Data privacy is another deeply concerning issue, as AI systems require vast amounts of data to function effectively, and the collection of this data poses risks to student privacy and data security. Personal data that is collected, such as learning behaviour, personal interests, or performance levels, needs to be protected, especially in the case of adolescents. Without adequate safeguards, this data is at risk of manipulation, surveillance, profiling and commercial exploitation.

From a teacher's perspective, the array of new tools, apps, websites, subscriptions, and writing assistants can be daunting. AI tools are changing the face of education faster than anyone predicted, and teachers are struggling to develop the new skills needed to navigate AI and also to decipher which tools are the most valuable to them.

AI has the potential to close the education gap and dramatically reduce inequalities; however, without correct funding, training, and guidelines, schools with fewer resources risk being left behind. Students from less advantaged backgrounds may not have access to digital devices, a stable internet connection, or adequate support from parents. The digital divide must be actively bridged through targeted support programs to prevent a new form of educational inequality.

Regulating Artificial Intelligence in Education

UNESCO has been working to develop principles and guidelines to steer the use of AI in education in a humanistic direction. In 2019, they published the first-ever document to offer guidance on the integration of AI into education - the Beijing Consensus on Artificial Intelligence and Education. Later in 2021, they published the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, which addresses the profound ethical concerns arising from the rapid, unregulated rise of AI in our societies. Embedded biases, the climate impact of massive data centres, threats to human rights, and the risk of worsening existing inequalities are very real issues that should not be ignored.

Preliminary national and state measures have already been introduced in the U.S., Singapore, Japan, the UK, and the UAE. The EU AI Act is the world's first comprehensive AI law. It was first proposed in April 2021. Their priority was to "make sure that AI systems used in the EU are safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory and environmentally friendly."

The AI Action Summit in January 2025 gathered representatives from almost 100 countries and thousands from the private sector and civil society. It resulted in the publication of the International AI Safety Report, the launching of CurrentAI, a $400 million investment fund, the creation of an environment sustainable coalition, and the AI Action Summit Declaration, which was put forward to commit countries to developing AI inclusively and sustainably. At the summit, 58 countries signed the declaration, including France, China, and India. The UK and the U.S. did not sign.

Schools, in particular, need a uniform legal framework, which includes binding quality standards, funding for programmes, and assurance of data protection. Teachers need quality training and schools need guidance on when AI can be used as support – and when it cannot. In addition, digital infrastructure in schools must be expanded – from high-speed internet to adequate equipment. It is the responsibility of policymakers to ensure that equal digital opportunities are available to both teachers and students alike.

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The successful use of AI in education begins with an integrated and transparent approach. It has the potential to catalyse progress towards SDG4 and address some of the biggest challenges in education. A recent study by Nature concluded that AI can be an 'enabler' for 134 of the 169 SDG targets.

Teachers can inspire students to embrace emerging technologies, and help show them how to use these tools properly, responsibly, and ethically. Ultimately, teachers are irreplaceable role models for motivation, social guidance, and pedagogical leadership. But with a carefully integrated approach, we can ensure that AI advances educational objectives.

The schools of the future need not only smart systems - but above all, responsible people who know how to use them.

Author: Maximilian Stark 19.05.25, edited and translated by Rachael Mellor (16.10.25) licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

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