Consider this. AI can automate tasks but it cannot replace relationships.
AI can generate content but it cannot provide judgment. AI has knowledge but teachers have lived experience.
AI amplifies teachers but it does not replace them. That said, AI should not be feared but
leveraged.
Education now has a responsibility to equip teachers and students with the skills, tools, and
ethical guidelines required for meaningful learning and responsible innovation in an AI-powered
world.
I recently presented at the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) Education
Committee Meeting, which convened at Dulwich College Seoul with various stakeholders
present to examine how AI is reshaping learning, teaching, and workforce preparation.
Following are the key points including the why around reflecting AI in curricula, reasons AI will
not replace teachers, and biases we need to be aware of when applying it to learning.
Equipping teachers to leverage AI
AI is a driver of education’s evolution — a more complex version of what happened when the
digital calculator came along.
To make sure it is helping rather than hindering the honing of critical thinking skills, we need to make sure students are being taught and assessed appropriately. For example, curricula should keep AI under a critical lens and not lean heavily on tasks that can be handled by AI alone.
Students may want to learn using AI and improve their own AI and data literacy. This is understandable given there is rising demand for graduates with these skills. Consider that 78% of global organizations used AI in 2024, up from 55% the year before, according to Stanford University’s 2025 AI Index Report.
It is reminiscent of the early days of the Internet where we saw explosive growth in a short period of time.
The first order of things is to ensure teachers understand and are familiar with AI and its various tools. The Stanford report states less than half of pre-K through Grade 12 computer science teachers in the U.S. feel equipped to teach AI — even though over 80% believe it should be included in foundational computer science education.
Empowering teachers to leverage AI is essential because it enhances their capacity to personalize learning, streamline workload, and create richer, more responsive educational experiences.
Without the skills and confidence to use AI effectively, schools risk widening the gap between what technology makes possible and what students actually receive in the classroom.
Second, guidelines matter. AI governance is essential so that learning integrity and student privacy are protected. Responsible AI evaluation is not yet normative in schools, and it is imperative that they become familiar with and implement AI policies, including following rapidly evolving government regulations.
Today’s AI landscape in education mirrors the search-engine boom of the 1990s, with companies rapidly developing features and exploring different directions at remarkable speed.
At present, the market is crowded with competing products, but no single platform has emerged as the definitive leader. It remains to be seen whether a decade from now we will look back and identify one dominant player, much as we now recognize Google’s rise to the top.
Being aware of AI biases
Awareness of bias in AI is crucial because these systems can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or produce unequal outcomes if their data or design is flawed. Ensuring that teachers and students understand this empowers them to use AI critically and responsibly, protecting fairness and trust in the learning environment.
Simple requests in generative AI exemplify this problem of bias. Try for yourself to see the result when you ask to “create an image of a CEO” - most likely “a middle-aged white man in a suit” will come up. Even models trained to be unbiased still show implicit bias, including based on gender or racial inequality.
There is also an American bias.
A major underlying reason is skewed investment. The U.S. dominates spending on AI. The Stanford report shows that, as of last year, U.S. private AI investment reached $109.1 billion — nearly 12 times China’s $9.3 billion and 24 times the U.K.’s $4.5 billion. For comparison, South Korea's level stood at $1.3 billion in 2024, although the government has since taken steps to encourage a much higher rate of AI adoption.
Aside from bias, we also see a real threat of a deepening digital divide. Back in 2019, the Brookings Institution found that there was no evidence of computer science education in 146 out of 217 countries.
While that number has now halved, more advanced IT programs will have had the opportunity to move even further ahead with AI. It is essential that this imbalance is addressed to prevent what I am calling the AI Empowerment Divide, where only some communities gain the skills and opportunities needed to benefit from the next generation of
technology.
Some of these issues can only be solved at the level of nations and governments. Still, hopefully others can join me in taking steps to embrace the opportunities of AI in education, and make sure teachers and students where we work are ready for a world in which AI is already part of the infrastructure.
*The author is the Director of Technology at Dulwich College Seoul
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