AI, contemporary education and role of human educators

SCI-TECH

Recently, in the field of technology, the miraculous invention of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a reckoning force and revolutionized every industry, including the education sector. The latest report by Grand View Research, Inc. suggests that the global smart education and learning market size is deemed to hit USD 680.1 billion by 2027 and is expected to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9 percent from 2020 to 2027. The same report highlights that the market size of global digital education is expected to reach USD 77.23 billion by 2028 and witness a CAGR of 30.5 percent from 2021 to 2028. The market size of global education technology is anticipated to reach USD 429.5 billion by 2030 with a CAGR of 16.5 percent from 2022 to 2030.

While we know that AI can remarkably improve the learning experience, it is equally true that it can never completely replace the need and role of human educators. The purpose of this article is to shed light on the importance of human educators in rendering emotional support, mentoring, and cultivating critical thinking skills - things that seem beyond the caliber of AI.

Emotional support and empathy

First of all, pursuing educational endeavors with human educators allow students to establish a connection emotionally. They can get support, and experience empathy and understanding. Whereas, solely relying on AI technology to educate students lacks the emotional quotient that is needed to understand the emotional needs of students. For instance, human educators can easily spot students who are suffering from stress or anxiety, or the ones that possess low self-esteem, then offer the needed support and guidance. This sort of emotional support, unfortunately, remains amiss in only an AI-led educational system.

Mentorship and personalized learning

Mentorship is another critical role that human educators possess - something that is hard to be replicated by AI technology. In a typical setting, human educators look beyond imbuing knowledge and strive to guide and inspire, and help with character building of their students. It is this facet of mentorship that aids students in discovering their true passion and potential. This process of mentorship encompasses working in close collaboration with students to understand their unique needs, strengths and weaknesses and then tailor support and guidance accordingly. This element of personalization helps students on individual level according to their needs, which surely seems nowhere near in AI-assisted teaching.

Critical thinking and creativity

Undoubtedly, AI can give information and answer all factual questions with lightning speed, but it cannot inculcate critical thinking skills. On the contrary, human educators encourage students to push the envelope, double-check their assumptions, think critically and come up with new ideas. By incorporating debates, discussion and first-hand experience, human educators make students analyze, synthesize and apply knowledge in unique ways. The phenomenon of critical thinking is not merely about considering facts; rather, it is about honing problem-solving skills, the ability to look at things from different perspectives, evaluating information critically and embracing new ideas. These skills are indispensable to making a mark in today’s competitive job market and in addressing the global issues of the future.

The human touch in education - final word

Though it is true that AI can bring incredible revolution in the educational sector by personalizing learning experiences and by automating a few tasks, it cannot fully replace the notable contributions that human educators make to the field.

The effect of AI on education in Pakistan is also gaining momentum. Latest AI-driven technology like virtual reality and augmented reality can improve students’ interaction and engagement, resulting in an overall improved learning experience. These technologies can be used to give students a real taste of historical events, get hands-on experience and simulate scientific experiments. Furthermore, language translation tools powered by AI can contribute a lot in breaking down language barriers and promoting cross-cultural learning, enabling Pakistani students to get access to global educational resources and work with fellows across the globe. As we continue to utilize AI in the educational field, we must remember that technology should be used to aid humans - not to completely replace them. A balanced approach in which we combine AI with human touch can totally revolutionize the learning experience.

The writer is a senior professor in Bahria University, Karachi and can be reached at

Saminariaz91@gmail.com