Why AI Won’t Destroy Education

Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, recently discussed the nonprofit’s groundbreaking integration of AI technology. The centerpiece of this initiative is Khanmigo, an AI tutor designed to provide personalized learning support to students.

Khan Academy’s journey began with Khan tutoring his cousins, an experience that highlighted the challenges of learning gaps and inspired him to leverage technology for personalized education. Khanmigo, developed in collaboration with OpenAI, represents a significant step toward this vision.

AI’s Potential

Khanmigo’s capabilities extend across various subjects, assisting students with math problems, programming challenges and writing assignments. The AI tutor’s ability to simulate conversations with historical figures and literary characters adds a unique dimension to learning, fostering engagement and deeper understanding.

Khan emphasized that AI’s role is to enhance, not replace, human interaction in education. He said, “The questions about cheating and privacy and hallucinations and math errors—we said, those aren’t reasons to run away. Those are issues to mitigate. We have to move forward if we’re really serious about using this technology for good.”

The goal is to empower teachers, providing them with tools to create more effective and engaging lesson plans, while freeing up their time for meaningful student interactions.

Challenges and Concerns

Khan believes that AI’s impact on education will depend on how it’s used. The integration of AI in education is not without its challenges. Concerns around anthropomorphization (the extent to which AI should be given human-like qualities), student dependency, misinformation, bias and accountability must be carefully addressed. Khan acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing the importance of responsible AI development.

A Glimpse Into the Future

Khan envisions a future where AI serves as a powerful tool for amplifying positive human intent. By harnessing AI’s potential, Khan Academy aims to make quality education more accessible, personalized and engaging for learners worldwide. The organization’s commitment to free, world-class education remains, with AI playing a pivotal role in achieving this mission.

The integration of AI in education is still in its early stages, but Khan Academy’s work with Khanmigo offers a glimpse into the transformative potential of this technology. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on education promises to be profound, shaping a new era of personalized and accessible learning.

Khan spoke as part of the fall 2024 Dr. Bruce J. Nelson ’74 Distinguished Speaker Series, “Learning in the Age of AI.” For a different take on the technology’s use and potential, view talks by series speakers John Warner (“Resist, Renew, Explore: Human Values in the Age of AI”) and Emily M. Bender (“Don’t Try to Get Answers from a Stochastic Parrot”).