This year, the International Day of Education marks its seventh year. The theme “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation” explores the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology on education, underscoring the importance of equipping individuals to understand, adapt to, and shape these rapid technological advancements. It also emphasizes the critical need to balance human agency as AI continues to evolve and integrate into various facets of life. The theme captures the ongoing dialogue on leveraging AI in education to enhance learning while safeguarding human decision-making and autonomy, ensuring that innovation complements rather than diminishes the human touch.
In this context, Anannya Saraswat of APAC News Network and CXO News engages in conversation with leaders and educators to explore the transformative potential of AI in education. The discussion also highlights the irreplaceable role of human interaction in learning. The experts share valuable insights on achieving a balance between harnessing the power of AI and ensuring that human connection remains central to the educational experience
Expert’s Opinion:
Prashasti Rastogi, Senior Director Education & Government, Coursera
Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize education with hyper-personalisation delivered at scale. It has the ability to level the playing field for students by serving as a powerful learning assistant, removing language barriers, especially for ESL learners. Faculty can leverage AI to be a thought partner, modernise curriculums, and generate assessments on demand that allow them to enhance the overall learning experience. At Coursera, we’ve seen this in action through the powerful AI tools that are available to our learners and instructors.
To maximize its benefits, it’s crucial to use Generative AI ethically and responsibly. Students need to understand its proper use, while universities must set clear guidelines and policies on when and how AI tools can be utilized. When used appropriately, Generative AI can significantly enhance the learning experience, boost efficiency, spark creativity, and improve communication.
Ratna Viswanathan, Chief Executive Officer, Reach To Teach
The use of AI in education is widely debated, with significant potential benefits such as personalized lesson plans, enhanced engagement, and improved efficiency for students and teachers. However, in India, where 238 million children attend under-resourced government schools, challenges like non-functional digital infrastructure and limited teacher skills in digital learning hinder its impact. AI can support offline and online learning by tailoring activities to individual needs, but effective implementation requires functional equipment and infrastructure. AI also automates administrative tasks, freeing educators to focus on teaching and development while improving school management efficiency. However, since AI systems rely on human-generated data, unconscious biases may influence outcomes, particularly in areas like hiring and content creation. Thoughtful design and careful oversight are crucial to harnessing AI’s potential effectively while minimizing bias.
However, human interaction is vital for fostering emotional awareness, empathy, values, and interpersonal skills. While AI enhances efficiency by automating processes, it cannot replicate the unpredictability and depth of human responses. Activities like sports, debates, and dramatics play a critical role in personality development, promoting interaction and social growth in children. Though AI frees up time, it cannot replace the nurturing aspect of human connections. As we embrace AI-driven systems, it is essential to balance efficiency with the development of emotional and tactical skills that remain uniquely human.
Dr. Jayanthi Ranjan, Vice Chancellor, Sharda University
As a deeply spiritual person, I see AI as a transformative force in education, offering personalized learning experiences and bridging gaps in accessibility, akin to the teachings of Lord Shiva, Krishna, and Rama, which celebrate the uniqueness of every soul’s journey. AI can empower remote and underserved communities, reflecting the inclusive wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. However, it is crucial to ensure AI remains a tool that enhances education without replacing the human connection, values, and empathy essential to learning. Like the teachings of the Ramayana, AI must be integrated ethically, balancing innovation with responsibility and compassion.
As an educator deeply rooted in spiritual values inspired by Lord Shiva, Krishna, and Rama, I believe leveraging AI in education requires a balanced approach that preserves human qualities like creativity, empathy, and ethical reasoning. Integrating ethical and spiritual education into the curriculum can guide students in using AI responsibly, fostering integrity, wisdom, and resilience. AI should be embraced as a collaborator, not a competitor, enhancing human creativity and empathy through interactive and experiential learning.
Institutions should focus on teaching the ethical use of AI, incorporating workshops on its moral implications, and aligning practices with principles like dharma and karma. Continuous reflection and feedback are essential to evaluate AI’s impact and ensure human values remain central. By nurturing thoughtful, compassionate individuals, educators can advance AI-driven education while preserving the sacred qualities that define humanity, shaping a future where innovation and humanity coexist harmoniously.
Abhay G. Chebbi, Pro-Chancellor, Alliance University
At Alliance University, we believe education should be as dynamic and personalized as the students we serve. That’s why Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our learning experience, helping us create more tailored, engaging, and efficient ways to support students on their academic journeys.
Our Learning Experience Platform (LXP), powered by Blackboard AI, does more than just track progress—it helps identify where students may be struggling and offer personalized academic support. If a student finds a particular concept challenging, AI pinpoints the issue and suggests targeted resources, while faculty step in to provide mentorship and guidance. This thoughtful combination of technology and human connection fosters a more impactful and supportive learning environment.
Beyond academics, AI also takes care of routine tasks like grading and attendance tracking, giving faculties more time to do what they do best, teach, mentor, and inspire. Intelligent chatbots ensure students have 24/7 access to support, making it easier to navigate university life.
But while AI enhances efficiency, we know that education is about more than just automation; it’s about creativity, empathy, and ethical reasoning. That’s why we use a hybrid approach, where AI serves as a tool to empower the faculties rather than replace them. By integrating technology in a way that complements human insight, we create a learning environment that not only prepares students for the future but also nurtures the skills that make us uniquely human.
Dr. Monika Sethi Sharma, Vice Chancellor, KK Modi University
In education, AI enables personalized learning by analyzing student data to identify strengths and areas for improvement, creating tailored learning paths, and offering instant feedback. AI-driven platforms, like virtual tutors, extend support beyond classrooms, while automation of tasks such as grading and attendance tracking allows educators to focus on interactive teaching. Predictive analytics also help identify students needing additional support, enabling timely interventions.
On a broader scale, AI aligns curriculum design with industry trends, enhances remote learning accessibility, and ensures a more inclusive education system. However, balancing AI with human interaction is essential to maintaining creativity, empathy, and holistic learning, ensuring technology complements traditional teaching methods.
Balancing technology and human interaction in education requires integrating AI to enhance, not replace, traditional teaching methods. AI can automate repetitive tasks like grading and data analysis, freeing educators to focus on nurturing critical skills such as creativity, empathy, and ethical reasoning. While AI personalizes learning, it should not compromise the social and emotional aspects of education, emphasizing activities like lab work, group projects, presentations, and social interactions for personality development.
Human educators must remain central, guiding students through moral discussions, fostering collaboration, and providing mentorship. Professional development programs can help teachers effectively integrate AI while preserving their role in nurturing emotional intelligence and critical thinking. This approach ensures that AI enriches education while maintaining meaningful human connections.
Way Ahead
As we embrace the transformative potential of AI in education, it is crucial to remember that any technology is a tool, not a substitute for human connection and interaction. While AI-driven systems can personalise learning, automate administrative tasks, and enhance accessibility, they cannot replicate the empathy, creativity, and ethical reasoning that educators bring to the classroom. The future of education lies in striking a harmonious balance—leveraging AI to amplify human efforts while preserving the irreplaceable value of interpersonal interactions. By fostering an ecosystem where innovation complements tradition, we can ensure that education not only equips learners with technical skills but also nurtures the emotional and ethical dimensions that define humanity.
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