As countries race to lead in the AI space, many are investing heavily in AI in education, seeking to prepare the next generation of students for an AI-driven workforce. Recently, OpenAI launched NextGenAI, a groundbreaking consortium with 15 leading research institutions, including Harvard University, Howard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, aimed at using AI to accelerate research and revolutionize education. This shift is occurring at an unprecedented scale around the world, and in this edition, we'll explore how AI is transforming education globally.
Here is an overview of today’s newsletter:
How countries and students worldwide are integrating AI into education
Student essays and perspectives on the role of AI in learning
Key insights from the recent AI x Education webinar
A comparison of student and teacher viewpoints on AI in education
⭐️ AI x Education Webinar Series - AI in the Classroom: Practical Insights from Leading EdTech Innovators
How is AI reshaping the classroom experience, and what does it take to implement it effectively? Join us for a deep dive into the real-world applications of AI in education with industry leaders who are pioneering the future of learning.
Hear from Bill Salak (CTO/COO, Brainly) and France Hoang (CEO, BoodleBox) as they share firsthand insights on how AI is being used to personalize learning, improve student outcomes, and navigate challenges like data privacy and ethical AI integration. From AI-powered tutoring to intelligent learning platforms, this webinar will provide actionable strategies to help educators incorporate AI into their classrooms.
🚀 Practical AI Use Cases and Resources
🌏 What’s Happening Around the World
Estonia and OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to schools nationwide (OpenAI)
Estonia is making a significant leap in AI and education with its AI Leap 2025 initiative, which will give all secondary school students and teachers in the country, beginning with 10th and 11th graders, access to ChatGPT Edu by September 2025. This is the first time a government has introduced ChatGPT Edu at a national level, aiming to integrate AI into education to prepare students for an AI-driven workforce.
AI Education In Africa: Empowering The Continent’s Next-Generation Workforce (Forbes)
Sub-Saharan Africa currently lags behind other regions in AI readiness due to infrastructural challenges such as limited internet connectivity, unreliable electricity, and restricted access to hardware. However, Africa holds great potential, as many African countries are not bound by legacy systems, which allows them to adopt AI solutions more quickly. This article highlights ways EdTech leaders can develop effective solutions to advance AI education in Africa.
Beijing to Roll Out AI Courses for Kids to Boost Sector’s Growth (Bloomberg)
Starting this fall, schools in Beijing will introduce AI courses for primary and secondary students. These courses will total at least eight hours per year and can be taught as standalone subjects or incorporated into existing curricula, such as information technology and science. This move is part of a larger effort by the government to back the use of large-scale AI models and take the lead in the AI sector.
This OpenAI forum will feature Jayna Devani, OpenAI's International Education Lead, and Louis-David Benyayer, Associate Professor at ESCP Business School, as they discuss how AI is transforming European higher education and the role of Custom GPTs in education. Check out the link to register for the forum on March 27th!
📖 Resources for Educators
Stanford HAI Annual AI+Education Summit 2025 Recordings (Stanford HAI)
The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI recently held its annual AI+Education Summit, titled “Human-Centered AI for a Thriving Learning Ecosystem”. Check out the link above to watch recordings from the summit.
More Teachers Say They’re Using AI in Their Lessons. Here’s How (EdWeek)
This article explores the innovative ways teachers are integrating AI into the classroom. Hear firsthand from educators as they share practical use cases of how AI is enhancing their lessons and transforming their teaching practices.
🎤 Perspectives on AI
2025 EDUCAUSE AI Landscape Study: Into the Digital AI Divide (EDUCAUSE)
The 2025 EDUCAUSE AI Landscape Study provides insights into the higher education community's experiences with AI, focusing on strategy, leadership, policies, use cases, workforce issues, and the digital divide. Here are some interesting takeaways from the survey:
“Teaching and learning is the functional area at the institution most focused on using AI, with particular focus on the areas of academic integrity (74%), coursework (65%), assessment practices (54%), and curriculum design (54%).”
“A larger proportion of respondents to this year's survey agreed that ‘we view AI as a strategic priority’ compared with last year's respondents, at 57% and 49%, respectively.”
‘I want him to be prepared’: why parents are teaching their gen Alpha kids to use AI (The Guardian)
This article explores the emerging trend of parents introducing AI tools like ChatGPT to their children. Some parents believe that early exposure enhances creativity and critical thinking, preparing kids for a future increasingly reliant on AI. These parents use AI for various activities, from learning and bonding to exploring perspectives and reimagining processes. However, concerns exist regarding potential over-reliance, misuse, and the erosion of trust between children and parents.
ChatGPT for students: learners find creative new uses for chatbots (Nature)
This Nature feature highlights creative ways students are using AI tools, from preparing for exams to scheduling out their workload. Explore these various use cases and hear directly from students as they share their strategies for leveraging AI.
Student Essay Contest: How is AI changing what it means to learn? (AI Consensus)
AI Consensus recently released the winning essays from their contest, where students shared how they’ve been using AI to navigate scientific papers and reflected on the evolving value of words in the age of AI. Check out the essays below to learn more about student perspectives on AI!
📣 Student Voices and Use Cases
Our team at AI x Education recently hosted a webinar, The Digital Divide 2.0: Can AI Level the Playing Field?, featuring Glenn Kleiman, Chris Mah, and Benjamin Klieger from Stanford University. We discussed how AI is reshaping education and explored what it takes to ensure equity, accessibility, and innovation in classrooms. Below is a recording of the webinar and our key takeaways. Be sure to tune in for our next AI x Education webinar on March 20!
Key Takeaways from the Webinar:
A shift from final assessments to the learning process by incorporating formative assessments that make student thinking visible at every stage.
Start with clear educational goals and assess how AI tools can help achieve them. Ensure that AI helps break through barriers to learning rather than being used in detrimental ways.
Create frameworks for responsible AI use by collaboratively developing norms with students, promoting ethical engagement, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Develop AI literacy among educators and students, focusing on the ability to use, evaluate, and understand AI.
To promote ethical and responsible AI use, students need to understand the limitations of AI, including the potential for biases and inaccuracies, and learn how to critically evaluate AI outputs.
Promote the development of students' authentic voices, ensuring AI doesn't standardize or replace the diversity of perspectives. Encourage student agency so they can develop their own thinking.
When implementing AI, it is important to consider what changes are needed in pedagogy and assessment and give teachers time to experience using these tools as learners.
📝 Latest Research in AI + Education
Education and Information Technologies Journal
The study examines teachers' perceptions, concerns, and professional development needs regarding generative AI in a large urban school district, surveying 1,454 teachers.
Secondary school teachers were less open to AI chatbot use compared to elementary school teachers. High school teachers were more interested in strategies for guiding students in AI use and detecting AI-generated work, while elementary and middle school teachers prioritized basic AI literacy as a professional development need.
80% of surveyed educators recognized the misconceptions in their classrooms, and most expressed interest in using AI to diagnose student errors and train teachers.
Teachers expressed different views on the benefits and concerns of AI use for themselves versus students. Over-reliance on AI was a primary concern for students, while misinformation was a greater concern for teachers.
The study found that teachers' professional development needs varied significantly by grade level taught.
The research suggests a need for targeted professional development and policies to effectively integrate AI across K-12 settings, addressing both pedagogical and practical concerns.
Chen, R., Lee, V.R. & G Lee, M. A cross-sectional look at teacher reactions, worries, and professional development needs related to generative AI in an urban school district. Educ Inf Technol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13350-wJournal of Applied Learning & Teaching
Don’t believe the hype. AI myths and the need for a critical approach in higher education ↗️
This paper challenges eight common misconceptions about AI, arguing that it is not truly intelligent, objective, or autonomous but rather built on human labor and data extraction.
Contrary to claims that AI fosters democracy and equality, the research suggests it exacerbates inequality, environmental degradation, and labor exploitation.
The anticipated AI-driven revolution in education has not materialized, with concerns about academic integrity, reduced critical thinking, and unproven learning benefits.
The authors advocate for embedding critical AI education into curricula to ensure AI serves human progress rather than reinforcing technological myths.
Rudolph, J., Ismail, F., Tan, S., & Seah, P. (2025). Don’t believe the hype: AI myths and the need for a critical approach in higher education. Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2025.8.1.1📰 In the News
The Guardian
The English schools looking to dispel ‘doom and gloom’ around AI ↗️
Key takeaways:
Schools across England are using AI in innovative ways, such as generating images from students’ writing, creating a virtual Charles Darwin for interactive science discussions, and designing AI-generated representations of their communities.
AI tools help students visualize their work, fostering discussions and improving descriptive writing. Virtual AI characters, like Darwin, have engaged students who typically do not participate actively in class.
Schools are implementing controlled AI usage, ensuring teachers moderate AI-generated content to avoid inaccuracies, bias, and over-reliance on technology. Some schools also integrate AI education into curricula, teaching students about both benefits and risks.
Experts warn against over-reliance on AI for learning, emphasizing that fundamental literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills must be developed before students can effectively use AI tools.
Schools like Denbigh High in Luton have established AI steering groups and digital literacy classes, ensuring students have a say in AI implementation while fostering responsible and ethical AI use.
BBC
Are Scottish students using AI to cheat their way to a degree? ↗️
Key takeaways:
Over 600 students were accused of AI misuse in 2023, a 121% increase from the previous year. Some universities, including Robert Gordon and Glasgow, recorded their first AI-related expulsions.
Consequences vary from minor mark deductions to formal disciplinary hearings where students can lose 10 to 50 marks. Severe cases may lead to expulsion.
While only two universities (Robert Gordon and Abertay) have AI detection software, AI misuse remains higher in other institutions. Academics warn of "cognitive offloading," where students rely on AI instead of developing analytical skills.
Many students see AI as a learning aid rather than a tool for cheating, using it for explanations, translations, and summarization. However, concerns exist about AI-generated misinformation, particularly in fields like law.
Students advocate for clearer institutional policies to ensure fair usage of AI in coursework, as universities explore new assessment methods like oral exams and multimedia projects to curb AI-related misconduct.
And that’s a wrap for this week’s newsletter! If you enjoyed our newsletter and found it helpful, please consider sharing this free resource with your colleagues, educators, administrators, and more.
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