Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming learning systems across the globe. The AI-powered education market is expected to exceed $20 billion by 2027 as governments worldwide race to rewire their education systems, overhaul curricula, train teachers, and navigate ethical minefields to ensure students are equipped to become creators and critical thinkers in an algorithmic world.
However, as nations strive to adjust, entrenched inequalities and gaps in regulations threaten to hinder progress and deepen the divide.
Where AI is reshaping classrooms
Based on publicly available information, the following countries are actively implementing AI in their education systems.
China
From September 2025, China will integrate AI into the national curriculum, making it a compulsory subject for all students at primary and secondary school level. Children as young as six will learn about robotics, algorithmic thinking, and machine learning.
South Korea
In March 2025, South Korea rolled out AI-powered digital textbooks for math, English, and computing for primary and secondary education. Backed by $70 million funding for digital infrastructure and $760 million for teacher training, the program incorporates real-time feedback and adaptive learning tools.
Australia
Australia approved the National Framework for Generative AI in Schools in late 2023 and a phased rollout was subsequently launched in 2024. The framework emphasizes transparency and responsible AI use, with several states piloting AI tools for students in years 5 to 10.
Estonia
Estonia’s KrattAI initiative aims to ensure that all students aged 7 to 19 achieve digital fluency by 2030. One key focus is on the ethical application of AI, particularly in identifying and mitigating algorithms for potential bias.
India
India’s Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI (YUVAi) initiative engages students in classes aged 8 to 12. The program combines technical AI teaching with social-emotional learning with virtual labs being used to improve accessibility in underserved areas.
United Arab Emirates
In partnership with ASI, a local educational technology company, the Ministry of Education is developing an AI-powered tutoring platform that is aligned to its national curriculum and designed to offer personalized support to students. As part of its National AI Education Initiative, the country plans to train more than one million people, including students, by 2027.
Finland
Developed by the University of Helsinki, the Elements of AI course has engaged over 1.2 million participants worldwide. The course introduces fundamental AI concepts and ethical design, serving as a model for accessible, non-technical AI education.
Hong Kong
Since 2023, Hong Kong has mandated 10 to 14 hours of AI education for junior secondary school students. The topics include algorithmic fairness, the societal impact of emerging technologies, and generative AI tools.
Key ethical and structural challenges
🔹 Data privacy concerns
AI’s entry into education is sparking significant ethical debates and raising questions about data privacy. The 2022 Human Rights Watch report found that of the 163 education apps reviewed, 89% of these collected children’s data which risked, undermined, or infringed upon children’s rights. Meanwhile, the 2023 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) revealed that 84% of countries lack comprehensive legal frameworks to protect student data.
🔹 Algorithmic bias in learning tools
AI tools in education may reinforce social biases. A 2022 study by Johns Hopkins University found that AI robots reflected racial and gender biases, preferring white males for scientific positions and disadvantaging those with accented English.
In the UK, algorithmic models used for grading exams generated a scandal in 2020, as low-income students were observed to have been downgraded.
In the U.S., a federal study discovered that facial recognition technology misidentified Black and Asian students as much as 100 times more often than white students, raising questions as to the fairness of AI in education.
🔹 Preserving human connection
A 2023 global survey by the Higher Education for Good Foundation found that 89% of students aged 18–25 opposed replacing teachers with AI, citing the irreplaceable value of empathy, mentorship, and adaptability.
🔹 Fragmented regulation
Despite the rapid adoption of AI in education, oversight remains fragmented. UNESCO’s 2023 AI Ethics Recommendation calls for mandatory impact assessments, yet meaningful safeguards in education remain limited.
A 2023 UNESCO survey of over 450 educational institutions worldwide found that less than 10% had established formal guidelines for generative AI. As of 2022, only seven countries had developed AI guidelines specifically for teachers, and only 15 had integrated AI learning goals into their national education plans.
While the EU’s GDPR provides robust safeguards, including parental consent for children under 16, many nations in the Global South do not have similar data privacy regulations, which raises concerns about surveillance and digital rights in educational settings.
🔹 Digital inequality: the hidden barrier
While high-income nations forge ahead, the digital divide threatens to widen. The International Telecommunication Union reports that 2.6 billion people remained offline in 2023, with sub-Saharan Africa’s internet access stagnating at just 36%.
See also: Challenges and opportunities for education in the era of AI | Experts’ Opinions
The 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report by UNESCO warns that without investment in vital digital infrastructure and the promotion of equal access, digital advances may widen existing inequalities.
The report revealed that 87% of students in high-income countries have home internet access, compared to just 6% of students in low-income countries.
