Artificial intelligence (AI) teachers can provide customized teaching for students to meet their unique conditions through analyzing data and deep learning. In the future, they may replace human teachers for basic teaching tasks. Since some students may find it hard to follow teachers in class, AI can meet their individual needs, give them confidence and inject new impetus into traditional teaching modes. An educational system providing customized teaching centered on students represents the future trend of AI education.

China’s AI education has developed rapidly in recent years with the rise of several thousands of relevant companies. Currently, AI teachers are able to help students learn pronunciation, analyze their condition, guide them to learn independently, and even grade writing assignments. Some foreign AI educational systems have been introduced into several domestic schools and have worked well in trials.

However, the promotion of AI education is still facing several difficulties in practice such as low technological levels, inadequacy of data and lack of funds. AI education still depends largely on human teachers’ work. Most importantly, it conflicts with current educational modes because the foreign-developed courses are not prepared for Chinese examinations. Teachers may also find it hard to change their original roles in classrooms since easing control on classes may make them seem irresponsible. These problems need to be tackled before the mass promotion of AI education.

With AI teachers, the original teacher-centered classes will be transformed into student-centered ones where teachers only organize the class and provide guidance. Since teachers are supposed to not only infuse students with knowledge but shape their values and help them develop innovation abilities, AI teachers will not replace humans but will only pose higher requirements on teaching. A combination of human and AI teachers can create the best prospect for AI education.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Oriental Outlook on July 19)