According to Luis von Ahn, artificial intelligence will soon support students more effectively than human teachers. In an interview with Business Insider, he stated that the way we learn is about to change. He believes it will simply be easier for students to learn from AI than from traditional classroom instruction. However, he emphasized that teachers and schools are not becoming obsolete—instead, their roles are expected to evolve significantly.
Von Ahn suggests that schools will increasingly focus on providing a safe and supervised environment for children, while AI takes over much of the individualized instruction that teachers often struggle to deliver in large group settings. He stressed the continued importance of adult supervision and care, noting that schools also serve a crucial function as childcare providers.
He highlighted how adaptive learning technologies allow AI to tailor content to each student’s needs based on their performance—something that’s difficult, if not impossible, for a teacher managing hundreds of students simultaneously. In areas where educational resources are stretched thin, such AI-driven tools could be especially transformative.
Despite the potential, von Ahn acknowledged that widespread changes in education will take time. Not everyone is ready to embrace AI in classrooms, and some communities may require more time and reassurance before adopting these tools. Still, platforms like Duolingo are already moving toward automation, reducing their reliance on human contractors as AI systems become more capable.
Globally, the integration of AI into education is already underway. For example, Ukraine’s Mriya app uses artificial intelligence to generate customized tests for students, illustrating how technology can reshape learning on a broad scale.
Von Ahn envisions a future where the structure of schooling changes, but schools themselves remain essential—not only as places of learning, but also as safe spaces for children while AI handles much of the instruction.
