Is education ready for the rise of artificial intelligence?

As Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, affirms, “AI offers great opportunities for education, as long as its implementation in schools is guided by clear ethical principles.”

Azoulay argues that “it must be a tool in the service of teachers and students to provide them with autonomy and well-being.”

The advance of artificial intelligence in education is already clear.

According to UNESCO, in high-income countries, more than two-thirds of secondary students are already using generative AI tools to complete their homework.

Teachers are also increasingly relying on AI to prepare lessons and evaluate student work.

However, UNESCO warns that education professionals still lack clear guidance on these practices.

Data from the organization shows that only 10% of schools and universities officially monitor the use of AI (May 2023 study). Furthermore, in 2022, only 7 countries had developed AI frameworks or programs for teachers. Likewise, only 15 countries had included AI training objectives in their national curricula.


In this context, the European project M{AI}L – Machine and Artificial Intelligence Learning for Education was born. Its aim is to facilitate active learning of artificial intelligence and machine learning in schools.

How?

By using digital tools based on experimentation, gamification, and accessible methodologies for both teachers and students.


M{AI}L is based on collaboration between educational institutions and technology companies like Grupo Gestionet (Spain), INOVA+ (Portugal), Agrupamento de Escolas José Estêvão (Portugal), ITEET Girolamo Caruso (Italy – project coordinator), Chania Directorate of Primary Education (Greece), and Ozel Fide Ortaokulu (Turkey), to bring AI and ML teaching into classrooms across Europe. It will benefit both students and educators, while contributing to the development of a better-prepared educational ecosystem for the challenges of the digital future.