We’re asking the wrong question about A.I. in education

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:24:51 +0000

If you traveled back in time to the end of the 16th century and visited the Laurentian Library in Florence, you would discover that the books—precious manuscripts from classical civilization—were chained to the desks. Looking back five centuries makes it easy to see how far we’ve come, and how technological and societal advancements have dramatically widened access to information and learning.

Knowledge and learning were once rare and expensive. Today, they are ubiquitous and cheap. Instead of traveling to Florence to consult a book bolted to a reading desk, you can access an online version, join remote discussions, sign up for online university courses from your living room or listen to experts share their views on podcasts during your commute.

From the invention of the alphabet to the rise of the internet, information technology revolutions have democratized learning. They have also repeatedly transformed the role of teachers, as educators adapted to the new tools at their disposal. The advent of generative A.I. will undoubtedly reshape the relationship between student and teacher once again.

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We’re asking the wrong question about A.I. in education