AI could spark a new age of learning—but only if governments, tech firms and educators work together

AI could spark a new age of learning—but only if governments, tech firms and educators work together

AI could spark a new age of learning—but only if governments, tech firms and educators work together

https://fortune.com/2026/02/17/artificial-intelligence-education-jose-manuel-barroso-stephen-hodges-efekta-education-group/

Publish Date: 2026-02-17 01:00:00

Source Domain: fortune.com

  • Despite the growing importance of education for social cohesion and economic development, traditional teaching methods and classroom structures have remained mostly unchanged for centuries.
  • Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are poised to revolutionize education, potentially as profoundly as the internet did for other sectors.
  • AI-powered educational tools have the potential to deliver high-quality, personalized learning at a global scale, though this will require coordinated efforts from educators, institutions, policymakers, and technology providers.
  • Many education systems today face challenges including teacher shortages, growing student populations, and resource limitations in both wealthy and low-income countries.
  • AI has the potential to provide instant feedback, scale personalized tutoring, and automate routine administrative tasks to allow educators to focus more on mentoring and other human aspects of teaching.
  • For students, AI could enable access to high-quality, tailored education regardless of their geographic or economic background, potentially closing disparities in access to top educational institutions.
  • Early applications of AI in education, such as in Kenya (Eneza Education) and Latin America (Efekta Education), show promising results in improving academic performance.
  • There are important considerations regarding trust, governance, privacy, and cultural inclusion necessary for successful adoption of AI in education.
  • The integration of AI into education should support a broader educational strategy that emphasizes creativity, adaptability, and lifelong learning in addition to traditional methods.
  • The successful and responsible integration of AI in education will be crucial for future global economic development and the empowerment of millions of students worldwide.