AI in education has always been part of learning since the 1960s, when AI in education began in Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations (PLATO) , developed by the University of Illinois in 1960.
Later on, it became the first computer with a basic learning system that adapted to early AI work like adaptive feedback.
As times went on, AI research also grew, but limited computer access in the 1980s–1990s meant real classroom use was rare.
In the late 2000s with the internet boom, AI began to shine while slowly entering education. Early versions of AI’s intelligent search tools and adaptive learning software, like Carnegie Learning (math tutor), started getting tested in schools.
Schools and universities began experimenting with Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Blackboard and Moodle, adding basic AI-powered analytics (such as tracking student progress).
After 2021, real AI-powered learning will begin in education tools like ChatGPT, and Brainly will start entering schools and colleges.
The global AI in education market is estimated at USD 5.88 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 31.2% between 2025 and 2030, owing to rising demand for customized learning experiences.
Schools and institutions are using AI-powered tools like Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS), chatbots, and learning analytics to improve student engagement and optimize teaching approaches.
In this article, we’ll dive into how AI in education is changing the way we do schooling worldwide, backed by powerful statistics, meaningful insights, and real-world examples. We’ll also learn about Learning Management Systems (LMS).
So, let's get right into it!
How AI in Education Can Help Teaching and Learning
Is AI helping in teaching and learning?
The answer is yes!
In the USA, public K–12 teachers reported using AI in instruction (mostly middle/high school).
Moreover, about 23% of districts had already provided AI training to teachers (another 37% planned to do so in 2023–24); not only that, among those teachers using AI, 50% rely on generative chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT) for classroom tasks.
It’s amazing how quickly AI-powered learning has been adopted in the classroom, and now we know why. Now let’s understand how.
Learning the Way You Understand:
You can modify your content to specific needs and learning preferences with the aid of AI-driven analytics, which can also reveal trends in learning and performance.
Feedback on Study:
The context window is one of AI's measurable characteristics. Consider the context length of a model as its memory limit expressed in tokens, which are segments of words or characters. It establishes the amount of historical input and output that the AI can remember in order to react.
This can assist AI in giving students accurate and timely feedback on their work so they can see their strengths and weaknesses.
Feedback of this kind enhances learning outcomes and comprehension while also helping teachers decide what to focus on in subsequent classes.
Content Creation with AI:
It can be applied to both content creation and study material. By giving a brief prompt with keywords, AI-powered systems allow you to generate courses, activities, exams, discussion starters, and presentations.
Be careful using this feature because many schools and universities do not allow students to create content using AI.
Don’t let AI think for you, make it work for you.
Adaptive Learning Platforms
Leaders in educational technology, such as Carnegie Learning and Knewton, offer adaptive systems that instantly customize learning materials and activities.
Continuous assessment provides fast feedback and allows the system to alter its approach. Adaptive learning approaches range from simple rule-based systems to complex machine learning algorithms.
Chatbots for Student Support
Many higher education institutions use university chatbots to help students by answering admissions questions, linking them to course material and student services, and sending reminders.
Other chatbots can assist students in generating ideas, enhancing their writing skills, and making the most of their study time.
What is LMS?
LMS is a learning management system that includes artificial intelligence (or machine learning) elements to automate and organize your online learning environment.
These features include grade management, learner progress tracking, and automated content management. Significant time and money savings may result from this.
The ability to facilitate more individualized learning is another significant aspect of AI-powered LMSs.
AI can suggest learning courses to students based on their prior activity, much like a recommendation system on websites like Spotify.
It goes above and beyond what is advised.
Difference between AI-based LMS and learning platform?
The integration of AI is what sets them apart from today's learning management systems.
Consider Duolingo, a very popular language-learning application that uses AI tutors and assistants and tech to provide users with a self-paced path to learning a new language.
Duolingo serves the individual learner market by assisting users in acquiring language skills and tracking their progress, but its objective, audience, and functionality differ dramatically from those of an AI-powered LMS.
Organizations, on the other hand, use AI-based LMS platforms to deliver training and development programs to their employees, with the ability to manage, distribute, and track online learning content across the whole workforce.
These systems can link individual learning goals to performance reports and feedback, as well as use virtual assistants to help with professional growth.
Challenges of AI in Education
A coin always has two sides, and so does AI-driven education, with all its pros that AI has to offer educators, learners, and administrators, but it also has problems and limitations.
Some of the most frequent challenges that educators face are listed below.
Bias in AI Systems
Research has indicated a notable bias in GPT (generative pre-trained transformers, such as ChatGPT) towards non-native English speakers.
According to Stanfor d, more than half of writing samples of non-native English speakers were incorrectly identified as AI-generated, whereas native English speakers had almost perfect accuracy.
Even worse, according to the study, 18 of the 91 student essays (19%) were entirely recognized by all seven AI detectors as being created by artificial intelligence, and 89 out of the 91 TOEFL essays (97%) were detected by at least one of the seven detectors.
More literary and complex language is perceived by GPT detectors as being more "human," which causes the problem.
Because of this, authors who do not use such language are more likely to be accused of using content created by artificial intelligence (AI) and may be unfairly accused of plagiarism.
Students who don't speak English may be wrongly accused of cheating, which could harm their mental health and academic careers.
Security and Privacy Issues
As long as AI has existed, privacy concerns have existed.
People are cautious when it comes to what personal information is collected, how it is used, and whether they have any control or knowledge over its use.
Many people express worries about how secure their data is kept and how unlikely it is to be compromised.
Other concerns are that others may view private and sensitive information, that inaccurate or misleading information may be shared, and that it is becoming easier for others to obtain personal information about others.
Risks are generally associated with data collection, processing, dissemination, and invasion (invasion of a person's personal space, choices, or interests).
Misconduct in the classroom
As previously mentioned, the main concerns educators have about AI are plagiarism and cheating.
It is unfair to students who do not cheat and jeopardizes the educational process for those who do when artificial intelligence (AI) is used in the classroom to write papers, finish tests, or finish assignments.
How will students behave as citizens after completing their education if they are taught to cheat and take shortcuts in the classroom?
In order to prevent the unethical use of AI, measures must be put in place.
Inaccurate and Unreliable Information
Artificial intelligence is only as good as the algorithms that guide it.
It will generate information that is biased or erroneous if the data it uses is faulty.
Pupils must be taught to assess and critically think about the information they come across instead of taking it at face value.
There are numerous educational resources available online to assist them in this endeavor.
Future AI Trends in Education
AI is transforming education by providing personalized experiences, adaptable learning programs, and readily available opportunities.
AI is rapidly entering classrooms. According to a recent survey from a German university, 56.8% of the students use AI tools, while 49% use ChatGPT/GPT-4 for schoolwork.
Generative AI is changing how teachers create lesson plans by quickly understanding and using a large amount of learning materials and teaching resources.
Final Thoughts
Artificial intelligence is transforming education by personalizing learning experiences and improving teaching methods. It addresses a number of issues in the educational sector.
It ensures that all students have equal opportunities by providing inclusive and accessible education around the world.
However, responsible use of AI in education is critical for adhering to ethical guidelines, prioritizing accessibility, and protecting students' rights. To fully realize AI's potential in education, continuous research and monitoring are required to ensure accuracy and sustainability.
