By Muddassar Nazar, CEO, Birla Brainiacs
The integration of Artificial Intelligence seems omnipresent in every sector across the globe, and education is no exception. This sector has also seen an influx of AI technologies in the past few years. The education landscape, as everyone knows it, has completely transformed with the introduction of AI-generated tutoring systems that offer and facilitate highly personalised learning opportunities. Such systems have completely changed how students are taught. It is no longer about rigid and fixed instructions, as real-time learners receive what they need within the time frame. Such advancements in education technologies have varied the age-old concept of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ method of learning and replaced it with a more engaging and strategic approach to education where students’ needs and pace are considered.
Education has generally been a one-size-fits-all phenomenon, rendering some learners feel alienated for not being challenged enough. These AI-based tutoring systems address the issue of weak students and use intelligent software tools, algorithms, and heavy analytics to examine every student’s weakness and learning styles. The end result is a customised learner expedition in response to the individual learner’s unique attributes with respect to engagement, understanding, and memory retention.
The transformation toward personalised learning is not just an aspirational enhancement; there is empirical evidence to support it. According to a McKinsey survey, AI, when integrated into learning, can effectively increase a student’s academic performance by up to 30%. Such mind-boggling statistics demonstrate the impact AI has on education and the need for AI.
AI tutoring systems are beginning to show their significance in practical applications. Several popular platforms demonstrate direct impact by providing innovative systems that respond to a learner’s pace. These solutions are not just aimed at providing answers; they appreciate the logic of errors made and provide a gradual model of error correction, video tutorials, and clever games as elements of the educational process.
In India, AI-powered educational institutions have accomplished tremendous results by providing individualised learning. When instruction was catered to individual students, the schools reported increased levels of engagement as well as improved academic results. Similarly, the Indian Education Management Association (IEMA) has developed AI-based tutor applications aimed at providing individual educational experiences to children in different parts of the country.
Among many others, one of the critical advantages of AI-driven tutoring solutions is their self-sustaining scalability. Whereas human tutors have the limitation of assisting only one student at a time, AI tutors can address the learning needs of millions of learners simultaneously. Every learner is assisted in a way that no one is left behind, as everyone receives a tailored education. Such scalability is especially vital in extending educational outreach to uneducated or rural regions that have always lacked quality education. With AI, education is not only personalised but also becomes more equitable.
The expanding use of AI in education can also be seen in its market opportunities. Global Market Insights highlights the growth of global AI in the education market, forecasting that the figure will surpass $20 billion by 2027 due to enhanced applications in schools, universities, and corporate instructional programs. Such astonishing growth indicates that AI has been recognised as a game-changing tool in education as a whole.
Nonetheless, the potential of using AI in education comes with hurdles that should not be ignored. For these systems to be functional, a lot of student information is necessary, raising issues of data privacy and security. Additionally, AI algorithms can marginalise people if appropriate measures are not put in place to eliminate biases. Therefore, ethical issues of this nature are triggering the need for the development of approaches such as federated learning, which is a way to build AIs without breaching individuals’ privacy.
Critics have raised concerns regarding the loss of direct human interaction due to the use of technology in the education sector. However, experts claim that the goal of artificial intelligence is not to replace teachers but to expand their presence. By automating fairly routine tasks such as assessment and progress tracking, AI allows teachers to engage in more meaningful activities such as student mentoring and instilling passion. Human instructors and AI systems will complement each other to improve the overall quality of learning.
The use of AI-integrated tutoring systems will characterise the future of education. These systems are not simply tools—they are game-changers that transform the dynamic nature of education for the better, making it more inclusive and effective. By combining technology with a focus on people, AI can create an educational experience where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
The continuous developments in AI within the educational sector clearly indicate its immense potential. With essential stakeholders such as businesses, governments, and researchers working hand in hand to overcome the challenges it poses, AI is poised to change the landscape of education across the world. It is not simply an improvement over existing methods—it is a positive disruption that can enable smarter, faster, and more customised education. Therefore, the question is not whether education will utilise AI but how much AI will be integrated into the educational sphere.
