How AI Could Save (Not Destroy) Education

One-on-one tutoring can have a substantial positive impact on student achievement, but practical and economic constraints limit access. AI could change that.

Back in the 1980s, educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom found that students exposed to one-on-one tutoring tended to perform much better than students in the typical classroom setup with one teacher and 30 students. In other words, one-on-one tutoring “could take your average student and turn them into an exceptional student,” and “can take your below-average student and turn them into an above-average student.” But how do you provide a knowledgeable tutor for every single student?

Using the power of generative AI, Khan Academy has created Khanmigo, an AI tutor that doesn’t just spout information, but engages with students’ learning processes by asking questions, theorizing how students think and where they may have gone wrong...