“AI might know the data, but educators know the heart.”- Mike Jackson
The increasing penetration of technology in the everyday lives of people is changing the paraphernalia of varied aspects of life. The generation born within the space of technology built into their lives even before they started living, has an inevitable bond with the developing technology. The biggest impact of developing an edge with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seen within the learning pathways and information exchange.
The world has shrunk within the technological verses, and the education sector is also affected by the technological tornado. AI has a lot of potential to help overcome historical barriers in education, such as lack of access to high-quality educational opportunities, lack of teaching professionals, and student learning losses but then the economical differences in class, creed, gender, and geographical areas also create major differences.
With more than 250 million students enrolled in schools across India and multiple providers of various education credentials, there are considerable opportunities for incorporating AI technologies into educational delivery in India. Following the release of the National Educational Policy (NEP), 2020, and its focus on digital delivery mechanisms, multidisciplinary coursework, and technological advances, the development of AI technologies within the Indian educational system has grown significantly. Additionally, the Government of India announced an investment of ₹500 crore during fiscal year 2025–26 to provide support for the development of a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education (AI4E).
This technology supports and encourages the school for personalized education; AI-powered educational platforms help analyse and track a learner’s pace, strengths, and weaknesses to deliver personalized lessons and quizzes. They also help navigate through the scope of improvements and provide individualized feedback, which can guide educators in tailoring their teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of each student. This has great potential in India, where students are often crowded into classrooms with only one educator, who has difficulty giving them, the same attention they require.
It has also transformed the role of educators. Now teachers are not just using the banking models to give away information; they also introduce critical awareness to use the information provided in the best possible manner. AI works as an aide for teachers by automating repetitive duties and giving them more time for mentoring, using inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, discussions, and building frameworks for discourses, which leads to a self-aware and enlightened learner.
An increase in the use of varying applications of artificial intelligence creates some valid concerns as well. In particular, the persistence issue of the digital divide faced by India at large is also impacting its critical role in the education sector. A significant number of rural and underprivileged learners do not have reliable internet access, digital devices, and the ability to use technology, which could exacerbate many existing inequalities.
Studies conducted in rural areas of India underscore two main types of impediments to implementing artificial intelligence; they are lack of infrastructure and ill prepared teachers. Because AI applications collect so much data, there are important ethical issues associated with the privacy, surveillance, and consent of those students. Data indicate that Indian students are adopting AI at rates higher than the rest of the world, resulting in the risk of overreliance on AI and decreased cognitive engagement.
In conclusion, achieving successful AI implementation in education will require the careful balancing of numerous factors including: teacher education, meaningful governance and equitable access to AI technologies. AI should not be viewed as a replacement for teachers, but rather as a tool that supports and enhances the overall pedagogical process while broadening the availability of learning opportunities for students throughout India.
Written by
Anjulika Ghoshal Siwach
PhD Scholar
Media and Communication Studies
Doon University
anjulikaghoshalsiwach@gmail.com
Anjulika Ghoshal Siwach is a Doctoral Research Scholar at the School of Media and Communication Studies, Doon University, Dehradun. She holds degrees in English Literature and Journalism and Mass Communication, and has qualified UGC-NET in Mass Communication and Journalism. With prior experience in media organizations as a content writer and editor, her research presently centers on Media and Information Literacy, critical digital pedagogy, and Digital Media Literacy among students and educators in Delhi NCR.