International Day of Education: Navigating AI & Preserving Human Agency

With this year’s theme, ‘AI and education: preserving human agency in a world of automation,’ the International Day of Education is expected to reflect the power of education in society in helping individuals grow with technological advancements.

The 2025 International Day of Education, celebrated annually on January 24th, focuses on a critical juncture: the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and education. This year’s theme underscores the profound impact of AI on the learning landscape. While AI offers unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning, automating administrative tasks, and expanding access to quality education, it also presents significant challenges. The ethical imperative lies in harnessing AI’s potential while ensuring that education remains human-centered, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence – qualities that define our humanity and are crucial for navigating a complex and rapidly evolving world.

This year’s observance calls for a global conversation on how to best integrate AI into education systems. It demands a critical examination of the potential biases embedded in AI algorithms, the ethical considerations surrounding data privacy and ownership, and the need to equip educators and learners with the digital literacy and critical thinking skills necessary to thrive in an AI-powered future. Moreover, it necessitates a proactive approach to addressing the potential displacement of educators and the need to upskill the workforce to meet the demands of an AI-driven economy. By fostering a collaborative and inclusive dialogue among policymakers, educators, technologists, and learners, we can ensure that AI serves as a powerful tool for enhancing education and empowering individuals rather than diminishing human agency and exacerbating existing inequalities.

When Policy Meets AI

Governments play a pivotal role in shaping educational policies and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all. The integration of AI in government education initiatives presents both opportunities and challenges. AI can be leveraged to personalize learning experiences, identify and address learning gaps, and optimize resource allocation. However, governments must prioritize ethical AI development and deployment, ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness. This includes investing in robust data privacy regulations, promoting responsible AI research and development, and establishing clear ethical guidelines for the use of AI in education. International Day of Education serves as a crucial platform for the government education market to share best practices, collaborate on ethical AI frameworks, and collectively address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in education.

In a recent event, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released a guideline on the ethical uses of generative AI in education. The ‘North Carolina Generative AI Implementation Recommendations and Considerations for PK-13 Public Schools’ has been created to direct the responsible implementation of AI in assignments and other educational activities.

AI and the Future of Healing

The healthcare education market increasingly relies on technology, and AI is poised to revolutionize healthcare education. AI-powered tools can be used to simulate complex medical scenarios, personalize training programs for healthcare professionals, and analyze vast amounts of medical data to improve patient outcomes. However, it is crucial to ensure that AI-driven education in healthcare prioritizes human interaction, empathy, and ethical decision-making. Healthcare professionals must be equipped with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary to effectively utilize AI tools while maintaining patient-centered care. International Day of Education provides an opportunity to emphasize the importance of ethical and human-centered AI in healthcare education, ensuring that future generations of healthcare professionals are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of AI-powered healthcare.

The National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, released by the Indian government, mentions multiple applications of AI. As per the government, the most intuitive and obvious use case primed for intervention by AI-powered solutions is its application in healthcare. This is evident by the increasing corporate activity in developing AI-focused healthcare solutions. The adoption of AI for healthcare applications is expected to increase exponentially in the next few years. The report further adds that AI combined with robotics and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is anticipated to be the ‘new nervous system for healthcare.’

Streamlining with AI (but Keeping it Human)

The Education Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) market is increasingly incorporating AI capabilities to streamline administrative tasks, improve student engagement, and enhance institutional efficiency. AI-powered ERP systems can automate tasks such as student admissions, financial aid processing, and human resource management, freeing up valuable time for educators to focus on teaching and student support. However, it is essential to ensure that the implementation of AI in ERP systems prioritizes data security, privacy, and accessibility. International Day of Education provides a platform to discuss the ethical implications of AI-powered ERP systems, ensuring that these technologies are used to enhance, rather than hinder, the educational experience.

EdTech Takes Flight with AI

The education technology market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the increasing adoption of AI-powered learning platforms, personalized learning tools, and intelligent tutoring systems. These technologies offer significant potential to personalize learning experiences, improve student engagement, and bridge the digital divide. However, it is crucial to ensure that EdTech solutions are accessible, equitable, and designed to enhance, rather than replace, human interaction and meaningful learning experiences. International Day of Education provides an opportunity to advocate for the ethical development and responsible use of EdTech, ensuring that these technologies are used to support and empower learners rather than exacerbate existing inequalities.

North America dominated the market, with a revenue share of 36.16% in 2023. The rising demand for data-driven decision-making in the North American educational system contributed significantly to this dominance.

Learning in a New Dimension

The metaverse in education market can potentially revolutionize the future by creating immersive and interactive learning experiences that transcend traditional classroom settings. Students can explore virtual worlds, collaborate with peers from around the globe, and engage with educational content in new and exciting ways. In January last year, Samsung announced a partnership with Physics Wallah, an educational company based in India, to launch ‘Samsung Hub’ for TVs and smart monitors. With this collaboration, Samsung aims to create an immersive experience for students.

However, it is crucial to ensure that the metaverse is used responsibly and ethically in education, addressing concerns related to data privacy, digital safety, and accessibility. International Day of Education provides a platform to discuss the potential and challenges of the metaverse in education, ensuring that this emerging technology is used to create equitable and inclusive learning opportunities for all.

AI and the Pursuit of Knowledge

The higher education market is increasingly leveraging AI to personalize learning experiences, improve student success, and enhance research capabilities. AI-powered tools can be used to analyze student data, predict academic performance, and provide personalized learning recommendations. However, it is crucial to ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly in higher education, prioritizing student privacy, data security, and academic integrity. International Day of Education provides an opportunity to discuss the ethical implications of AI in higher education, ensuring that these technologies are used to support and empower students rather than hinder their academic and personal growth.

Playing with AI

The educational toys market is increasingly incorporating AI and robotics to provide interactive and engaging learning experiences for children. AI-powered toys can adapt to a child's learning style, provide personalized feedback, and foster creativity and critical thinking skills. However, the involvement of AI-powered toys in kids' lives is still a debatable topic among parents and entrepreneurs. As per a report on the World Economic Forum, back in 2018, Germany banned ‘My Friend Cayla,’ a talking robot doll directly connected to voice recognition software over the internet. The step was taken to protect children’s privacy from hackers spying online under the right to privacy.

Furthermore, it is crucial to ensure that AI-powered toys are designed with child development in mind, promoting healthy social and emotional development while minimizing screen time and encouraging physical activity while maintaining their privacy. International Day of Education provides a platform to discuss the ethical implications of AI-powered toys, ensuring that these technologies are used to support children's holistic development and well-being.

The Human Factor & More

The 2025 International Day of Education serves as a timely reminder of the critical role of education in shaping a just and equitable future. As AI continues to transform our world, it is imperative that we harness its potential to enhance education while safeguarding human agency and ensuring that education remains a force for good. By fostering a collaborative dialogue among policymakers, educators, technologists, and learners, we can ensure that AI is used to create a more inclusive, equitable, and human-centered education system that empowers individuals to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. This requires a commitment to ethical AI development and deployment, a focus on developing the digital literacy and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate an AI-powered world, and a concerted effort to address the potential.