Are Schools Becoming Daycare?
Duolingo makes a provocative prediction.
Good morning, AI educators. Duolingo’s CEO predicts a future where schools serve mainly as childcare, with AI handling most of the teaching. Meanwhile, the UK is testing AI-assisted marking to reduce teacher burnout and tackle the retention crisis.
In AI education this week
Duolingo CEO says schools may soon be “just for childcare”
UK explores AI marking to ease teacher workload and retain staff
Pre-K-12 AI integration focuses on ethics and child development
Viral teacher quits, blaming AI for degrading student learning
India’s Symbiosis University launches new AI education institute
Duolingo CEO Says There May Still Be Schools in Our AI Future, But Mostly Just for Childcare.
Details:
Luis von Ahn argues that AI has become more effective at personalized teaching than most human educators.
He suggests that in the future, academic learning will largely occur through AI-driven platforms, not traditional schools.
Schools will increasingly serve as supervised spaces for children while parents work, rather than centres of learning.
Von Ahn positions Duolingo as a model for how AI can provide effective, scalable education globally.
His remarks have sparked debate about the social, emotional, and developmental functions of schools.
Why it matters:
If AI ever takes over core teaching responsibilities, the traditional role of schools could be significantly reduced. While AI may improve access to high-quality, personalized learning, this risks side-lining the critical social development and community support that schools provide. Educators and policymakers must grapple with how to balance technological advancements with the holistic needs of children.
Business Insider, May 17, 2025.
AI Can Help Stop Teachers Leaving the Profession
A National Audit Office report recommends AI-assisted marking as a practical solution to reduce teacher workload and improve retention rates.
Details:
Excessive workload, particularly marking, is given as a primary reason for teacher attrition in the UK.
AI tools are being trialled to automate routine assessment tasks, starting with standardized exams.
Early results suggest AI can perform these tasks effectively, freeing teachers for more impactful activities.
Teacher unions support the trials cautiously but emphasize that AI should remain a support tool, not a replacement for human judgment.
The Department for Education is monitoring pilot programs closely before considering broader adoption.
Why it matters:
Teacher shortages are a growing crisis, and reducing workload is a critical part of improving retention. AI-assisted marking could significantly reduce time spent on repetitive administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus on student engagement and support. However, over-reliance on AI could lead to concerns about fairness, accuracy, and the dehumanization of assessment, which will need careful policy oversight.
The Times, May 14, 2025.
AI education news in brief
AI in Pre-K-12 Classrooms
The University of South Florida is collaborating with Pre-K-12 educators to integrate AI into classrooms, emphasizing ethical use and child development. Phys.org
How AI is Depriving Students of Basic Human Skills
A discussion on The Washington Post's "Impromptu" podcast highlights concerns that AI tools may enable students to bypass foundational learning, impacting critical thinking development.AI Goes To School
The Kiplinger Letter reports on the increasing integration of AI in K-12 education across the U.S., including teacher training and federal initiatives to promote AI literacy.AI Can Help Stop Teachers Leaving the Profession
A National Audit Office report highlights how AI-assisted marking could alleviate teacher workloads, potentially improving staff retention in the UK.
Teacher Quits Profession After Viral Rant on How AI is 'Ruining' Education
A former high school English teacher went viral after expressing frustrations over students' reliance on AI tools, leading to her decision to leave the teaching profession.Symbiosis Launches New AI Institute
Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, has launched the Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute to make AI education accessible across academic disciplines.
In other AI news
The UK Defence Secretary announced that AI will play a central role in modernizing the armed forces, aiming to expedite equipment delivery and adapt to real-time battlefield conditions.(The Guardian)
JPMorgan signalled a strategic shift by leveraging AI to enhance productivity, leading to a slowdown in hiring and a projected 10% reduction in operations staff. (Business Insider)
Nature published as study that found that GPT-4 can be more persuasive than humans in online debates, especially when tailoring arguments using information about opponents. (Nature)
Microsoft and other tech companies announced significant layoffs, attributing the workforce reductions to the rapid advancement of AI technologies and the need for businesses to adapt to evolving work environments. (EconomicTimes)