Every child will get AI. Not every child will get a teacher

The debate surrounding artificial intelligence in education is framed by a stark contrast: every child will have an AI tutor, but only those whose parents can afford it will have a human teacher. The Pew Research Center reveals that one in five teenagers from families earning less than $30,000 use AI for homework, compared to just 7% of teenagers from families earning $75,000 or more. This inequality in access to AI is raising concerns about the future of education.

An anecdote from the past illustrates the potential pitfalls of AI as a replacement for human teachers. A young man, once homeless, managed to complete an IT school course and eventually teach there himself. He credits his success to his teachers who motivated him to stay in school. While AI could provide knowledge, it cannot replicate the human connection and motivation that teachers provide.

Experiments with AI tutoring bots have shown mixed results. Students using regular ChatGPT improved, as did those using a tutoring version, but those without AI fell behind on exams by 17%. This suggests that while AI can aid learning, it cannot replace the critical skill of independent problem-solving.

The role of a teacher is not merely to impart knowledge but to motivate students to learn when it's not required by external factors. This task requires human empathy and understanding, which AI lacks. The U.S. Department of Education has prioritized AI development in education, but critics argue this could reduce the time students spend with their teachers.

Teacher shortages and budget cuts have led some to see AI as a cheaper alternative. However, the rapid advancement of AI technology makes human teachers increasingly scarce and expensive. UNESCO predicts a need for 44 million additional teachers by 2030. The current trend could lead to a situation where teachers are reduced to monitoring metrics, with AI handling the teaching.

The pandemic highlighted the shortcomings of online learning compared to in-person instruction, but society has grown accustomed to online schools. The same could happen with AI in education, leading to a society where not everyone has a live teacher. The choice will be whether AI enhances or exacerbates educational inequality. The future of education hinges on whether we prioritize AI as a tool for leveling the playing field or as a solution that entrenches inequality.