How AI is Shaping Education—Today & Tomorrow

AI transforms lifelong learning through apps that teach languages, critical thinking, and specialized skills at any age.

AI is changing education. The question is how AI is changing education, and are these changes positive, negative, or somewhere in between? 

In some ways, AI has been in classrooms and on campuses for years. However, with the recent developments of generative AI, things are changing fast. Administrators, teachers, and students have very different reasons to be excited about AI, but also their own reasons for uncertainty and even anxiety. 

To understand how AI is shaping education, it’s important to understand how it is being used today and how it has the potential to be used in the future. 

Current AI uses across educational levels 

AI is used differently at each level of education. Early elementary teachers are going to use it in unique ways compared to professors. Additionally, take note that some tools will appear in multiple lists, as they are used at all educational levels. 

Primary Education (K-5/6th Grade) 

  • Adaptive learning platforms (Khan Academy, i-Ready, and IXL)
  • Virtual learning platforms/Learning Management Systems (Google Classroom, Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard Learn, Schoology, and D2L Brightspace) 
  • AI-powered educational games (Kahoot!)
  • Personalized learning tools 
  • Dyslexia detection

Secondary Education (5th/6th-12th Grade)

  • Plagiarism and AI detection (Turnitin)
  • Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) 
  • Automated grading and assessment tools
  • Test prep (Study Fetch)

Higher Education

  • Exam proctoring and cheating prevention
  • Adaptive learning technology (Knewton) 
  • Quiz and test design
  • AI-generated videos 
  • Student support chatbots
  • Plagiarism and AI detection
  • Automated grading and assessment tools

AI Tools at All Levels 

  • Automated grading systems
  • Content creation assistance
  • AI-powered analytics 
  • Automated administrative tasks 

The risks of AI in the classroom

Using AI in education comes with some pretty significant risks. Despite the usefulness of many of these tools, some educators are sounding the alarm. 

The University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, shared some of the biggest concerns about AI in late 2024. They noted the following red flags: 

  1. Privacy and security concerns, especially regarding collecting and student data. Students are protected by FERPA (which is comparable to HIPAA laws in healthcare), but are these AI platforms truly effective at ensuring that student data is secure?
  2. Bias issues against non-native English speakers. Because AI algorithms produce simple text that follows predictable patterns, AI detection platforms are more likely to treat more complex texts as human-written. The problem arises when non-native English speakers use simple but accurate sentence structures, thus flagging the AI detection software more frequently.
  3. Reduced interaction between students and teachers. Learning is relational, and if AI tools reduce how much student/teacher interaction there is, what is the impact? That’s the question that a lot of teachers and administrators are asking. Educators have to be careful not to outsource the work of education to tools and platforms if those tools are going to harm students’ growth.
  4. Costly implementation. The cost of AI tools varies significantly from one to the next. If better-funded schools can implement plentiful AI resources but lower-income schools can’t, there could be additional discrepancies in educational outcomes.
  5. Increased academic misconduct. Specifically, educators have real concerns about the implications of AI on students’ academic integrity. When students use AI to generate answers to quiz questions, exams, and essays, it’s not just an issue of cheating. It’s also a problem because students aren’t learning the material. Over time, a serious knowledge deficit can disadvantage students who consistently cheat using AI. 
AI is seen by students as a tool for brainstorming and finding information.

How students view AI 

A fascinating study into how students view and interact with AI was conducted by Harvard University’s School of Education, Common Sense Media, and Hopelab. 

The report examines how teens and young adults (ages 13-22) view and use generative AI technology. Based on national survey data collected in late 2023, the research explores usage patterns, attitudes, and perceptions across different demographic groups, with particular attention to differences by race/ethnicity, age, gender, and LGBTQ+ identity.

Key findings include:

  • About half (51%) of young people have used generative AI at some point, though only 4% use it daily
  • The most common uses are getting information (53%) and brainstorming (51%)
  • Black and Latinx youth are twice as likely as white youth to use generative AI weekly.
  • Among non-users, the main reasons for not using AI include believing it wouldn’t be helpful (34%), concerns about cheating (24%), and not knowing how to use it (23%).

When asked about the future, 41% of respondents believe AI will have both positive and negative impacts on their lives. LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to anticipate negative impacts compared to their cisgender/straight peers. Young people express excitement about AI’s potential to improve efficiency, enhance creativity, and advance human capabilities, but also worry about job displacement, privacy issues, AI “taking over,” and the spread of misinformation.

Quotes from students about AI 

Students surveyed made some interesting statements about AI. The page numbers in this list refer to the pages of the report so that you can find out more about the young people who made these statements. 

  • “I think that it [generative AI] will revolutionize efficiency at school and in the workplace, freeing up workers for higher-level activities.” (p. 21)
  • “As an artist, I worry that many companies who would usually contract real artists will switch to lower quality AI-generated content to cut corners and save money.” (p. 23)
  • “I use AI to help myself with making myself feel better about being who I am.” (p. 28)
  • “It helps me ask questions without feeling any pressure.” (p. 27)
  • “Teens use AI to pretend they have someone to talk to, or to pretend they’re talking to their favorite fictional character.” (p. 27)
  • “AI is not scary for me. I use it to help me compose reports, build lists, plan days, fact check, and to have conversations.” (p. 25)
  • “We use it for very creative purposes, not just cheating on homework.” (p. 27)
  • “Adults need to research more about these new concepts and talk to their kids about it.” (p. 29)
AI is prompting educators to rethink assessments, shifting away from traditional methods to better integrate technology.

Teacher and administrator perspectives on AI 

What about teachers? As the primary decision-makers on the use of educational AI technology, their perspective is paramount. 

Education Week surveyed teachers in 2023 and found: 

  • Nearly half of educators believe AI will have a negative or very negative impact on teaching and learning in the next five years
  • Only 27% believe AI’s impact will be positive or very positive
  • The remaining educators appear to have neutral or mixed views

Here are some of the key themes in educator responses: 

  • Many acknowledge AI is “here to stay” and will transform how we define being “future-ready”
  • Some educators emphasize the need to “rethink assessment methods” rather than “shunning” AI
  • Several educators stress that “AI cannot be feared” but must be understood
  • Some call for research-based implementation with appropriate cautions
  • Worry that AI will further hinder critical thinking abilities
  • Fears about increasing student dependency and mental health issues
  • Concerns that AI provides “answers without knowledge”
  • Some educators see themselves as “new adopters” who will “embrace AI”
  • Recognition that AI can enhance the curriculum if “taught correctly”
  • Many describe AI as a “double-edged sword” with both benefits and drawbacks
  • Acknowledgment that AI can help teachers, but it poses risks if students use it to avoid learning
  • Concerns about AI potentially replacing teachers if not implemented thoughtfully

The article shows a wide spectrum of educator opinions, from enthusiastic adoption to serious concern, with many recognizing both potential benefits and risks.

What’s next in education? 

The future of education is shaped by AI in more ways than we realize. Most educators are aware of the benefits and the drawbacks. On the one hand, AI platforms make big promises about giving students 100% personalized learning experiences that adapt instantly to each student’s unique learning needs. However, there are significant challenges, too. In addition to the potential for misuse, students who rely too heavily on AI assistance may fail to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When you consider the potential for a widening gap between high-income and low-income schools, the risks of AI become even more serious 

Perhaps the most significant risk is this: education becomes increasingly technology-driven, we risk diminishing the human connections fundamental to effective learning. This includes the teacher-student relationship, peer collaboration, and social-emotional development that AI cannot fully replicate. 

Finding the right balance between technological enhancement and human instruction will be crucial as we navigate this AI-enhanced educational future.