AI's impact on education: benefits & challenges ahead

A new report by S&P Global Ratings has explored the transformative impact artificial intelligence (AI) may have on the education sector, noting both potential benefits and challenges.

The study suggests that AI could significantly change the educational landscape by impacting skill development, teaching methodologies, and student learning processes.

Miriam Fernandez, AI Director at S&P Global Ratings, emphasized the necessity for governments, policymakers, and educational institutions to invest and adapt to these emerging paradigms.

"Governments, policymakers, and institutions will need to invest and adapt to new paradigms to secure the potential benefits offered by AI's integration into education," stated Fernandez. She noted that these benefits could include enhanced educational methods and outcomes, improved accessibility, and reduced costs.

However, Fernandez also acknowledged that constraints such as cultural resistance, funding shortages, and regulatory frameworks are likely to result in varied outcomes across different regions. "Constraints, including those due to cultural resistance, funding, and regulatory regimes are likely to contribute to uneven outcomes across and within regions," she remarked.

In addition to the benefits, the deployment of AI in education also raises important ethical questions. Fernandez highlighted the potential for AI to introduce or exacerbate biases within educational systems. "AI's use in education raises significant ethical questions, notably surrounding the potential for inherent and unrecognized bias in education systems," she said.

Educators and institutions will face challenges in balancing the advantages offered by AI-driven systems, such as improved responsiveness and personalized learning experiences, against potential privacy concerns for individuals.

"Educators will have to grapple with the merits of using agentic-AI systems, which offer greater responsiveness and personalization at a potential cost to individuals' privacy," Fernandez further elaborated.

The report encourages a proactive approach to managing these challenges, suggesting that embracing AI thoughtfully could lead to substantial enhancements in education delivery and accessibility, preparing the workforce for future market demands.