As the globe honors World Teachers’ Day on October 5, a new force is redefining the classroom: artificial intelligence (AI). What experts expected to unfold over decades has arrived in just a few years, opening university doors and challenging the traditional role of teachers.
At the recent United Nations General Assembly, a panel titled Youth and AI: Risks, Opportunities, and Insights from Across the Generational Divide highlighted how rapidly education systems are adapting—or lagging—before this surge of technology.
AI tools can draft essays in seconds, solve equations instantly, and summarize complex theories into bite-sized points. While these features promise broader access, they also risk dulling critical thinking: the more answers we outsource, the weaker our intellectual muscles grow.
In refugee camps and fragile states, AI sometimes serves as the only teacher available, offering lectures once out of reach but also sidestepping the deeper struggle that primes young minds for real-world challenges.
As educators and policymakers rethink teaching methods for a digital-first generation, the question remains: how can we harness AI’s power without sacrificing the essence of learning? This World Teachers’ Day, the answer may lie in blending human guidance with intelligent tools—ensuring the coaches of tomorrow remain at the heart of education.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
