Gen AI and the Future of Education: Are We Gaining Knowledge or Losing Ourselves?

When Technology Becomes the Teacher

For a while now, I have been exploring the world of artificial intelligence—particularly generative AI—and I have to admit, it has taught me a lot. It has helped me organise my ideas, put thoughts into words, and make better sense of complex information. In many ways, it feels like I have been learning with it, not just from it. But this journey has also raised important questions—especially about education. As AI tools become more embedded in our classrooms, our assignments, and even our lesson planning, I find myself wondering: what happens when machines start to take over what teachers used to do?

Is the Classroom Still Human?

AI tutors, automated grading systems, chatbots answering student questions—it all sounds efficient, and sometimes it really is. But education is not just about answers. It is about the relationships, the conversations, the quiet support that helps students grow not only in knowledge but also in character. Can a chatbot teach empathy? Can an algorithm understand the complexity of a student's struggle? The more we rely on AI to fill these roles, the more we risk losing the very heart of education: human connection.

Skills We’re Forgetting to Teach

One thing I have noticed—and I know many parents and educators feel the same—is that young people are spending less time outside, less time doing chores, and even less time talking to each other. Many prefer screens to real-world engagement. On the surface, this might seem like a simple change in habits. But underneath, it has real consequences. The lack of physical activity, social interaction, and personal responsibility is quietly impacting their mental health. Anxiety, loneliness, and stress are on the rise—and we need to ask ourselves whether technology, while helpful, might also be part of the problem.

Whose Knowledge Are We Consuming?

Education has never been as objective as we like to think. What one country teaches as historical fact, another may challenge as biased or incomplete. With AI, we now have tools that can summarise vast amounts of information in seconds—but these tools are built on data created by humans, who carry their own beliefs, agendas, and gaps in understanding. If we let AI shape the way we learn about the world, we need to ask: whose version of the world are we learning?

When Learning Becomes a Product

There was a time when science and education were driven by curiosity and the desire to improve lives. But increasingly, they are tied to business models. Research follows funding. Education chases rankings. Now, AI risks pulling us even further into a system where learning is measured in test scores, outputs, and speed—not depth, insight, or meaning. And if AI tools are developed by companies seeking profit, can we really assume they will always serve learners before shareholders?

The Comfort of Convenience—and the Risk

We live in a world where everything is designed to be easier. Robot vacuums clean our floors, voice assistants write our grocery lists, and yes, AI can now write entire essays or plan lectures. It is tempting to let it all happen for us. But there is a cost to this comfort. When we stop writing for ourselves, thinking critically, or even struggling with a difficult idea, we start to lose something essential. I often think of the animated film WALL-E (Pixar, 2008), a future where people are so pampered by machines that they forget how to live. It feels less like fiction and more like a warning.

Misinformation, Manipulation, and the Messy Truth

One of the biggest challenges AI presents is its ability to generate convincing—but false—information. Deepfakes, fake citations, biased content: they are already out there. And with social media amplifying everything, it becomes harder and harder to tell what is real. In the wrong hands, these tools can be used to mislead, manipulate, or harm. And the sad truth is, they often are. Those acting unethically tend to benefit, while honest people struggle to keep up.

Loving the Tool Without Losing Ourselves

I say all this as someone who loves using generative AI. It has helped me think more clearly and express myself better. But I also know it is just a tool. I fact-check, I edit, and I make sure the voice is still mine. Because I don’t want to lose my ability to think, write, or reflect deeply—those are human skills that no technology should take away.

Before It’s Too Late

We have reached a point where we need to pause and reflect. AI is not going away, and nor should it. But how we choose to use it—especially in education—will shape future generations. We need to ask whether we are teaching students how to think or just giving them the tools to do it for them. Because if we do not set clear boundaries now, we risk creating a future where learning becomes mechanical, shallow, and disconnected from what really matters: being human.

WALL_E (2008)- Pixar