Kamal Ghorui
Have you noticed how quickly the way we learn has changed? Once upon a time, to learn anything we had to go to schools and colleges.
Six years ago, when the pandemic struck, it all changed, and how dramatically. Education from primary to university levels shifted to homes, with online learning. Unimaginable once!
Now we are seeing another game changer. What else? Artificial intelligence. It’s changing the game for both teachers as well as students.
Personalised learning
While the pandemic shifted the place of learning from educational institutions to homes, AI is changing the way learning modules are structured. From the good old “one-size-fits-all” model it is changing to a personalised one.
It’s been known for decades that each child in a classroom has different levels of comprehension and it has always been a challenge for a teacher to cater to every single child’s pace of learning.
Finally, AI has come to the rescue, by analysing how a student answers questions and dynamically tailoring lesson plans to fit their specific needs.
According to a Unicef report of November 2024, in a pilot programme using the AI-powered mathematics platform Eduten, grade 5 students in Bhutan outperformed their peers by 11.2 percentage points in numeracy skills.
A similar Unicef report of June 2025 says students in Uzbekistan saw a 16.9% increase in mathematics skills after using AI tools.
Many language learning apps have already incorporated these features in them.
Artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini are being used for correcting language errors and explaining basic theorems and concepts in science and mathematics.
AI has also made learning more inclusive. For example, new voice models allow students to learn in local languages like Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
Today we are learning by simply conversing with our devices and getting real-time guidance. Again, unimaginable once!
Will AI replace teachers?
A common worry is that AI might replace teachers, but the reality is quite the opposite. AI is acting as a “co-pilot”.
Earlier, the parameter that teachers relied upon to assess their students was marks. Today, AI can tell a teacher exactly which concept a student is finding difficult to understand. This allows for much better one-on-one support, making the life of both teachers and students much easier. So, it is no surprise that a good number of teachers are already using AI tools.
At the National Conclave on AI Evolution held in New Delhi in December 2025, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said artificial intelligence is already reshaping learning, teaching, assessment, governance and decision-making. He emphasised that AI should help restore the fundamental human purpose of education.
He also noted that the technology must strengthen teachers, empower students, and improve learning outcomes — particularly for those who have been left behind by traditional education systems.
According to Akshay Saxena, the co-founder of Avanti Fellows, a non-profit that helps in the education of students mainly in low-income rural communities, AI’s biggest impact will be improving human connectivity and interaction. “The first beneficiaries of this have actually been the teachers, because they’re able to rapidly interpret data. We can try and start to use AI to help them counsel kids. We can help them have skillsets that they didn’t have before.”
How it all works
While both teachers and students are benefiting immensely from artificial intelligence, it is worthwhile to take a look at the backend to understand how it all works. All this is not possible without a strong and reliable system.
This is where cloud infrastructure, like AWS or Amazon Web Services, comes in. For example, companies like AppSquadz are building hybrid learning platforms. One example of this is the application built for Drishti IAS. AWS Elemental MediaLive is used to convert live classroom sessions into digital video streams that can be broadcast to thousands of students online.
The perennial fear of any online user is the problem of “buffering”, and it can be really frustrating for students. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, the lectures are sent from servers closest to the learner, using a tool called Amazon CloudFront.
Another tool is AWS Elastic Beanstalk, which automatically manages the servers and adjusts capacity when large numbers of students log in simultaneously. Then there is also Amazon S3 which provides secure cloud storage for recorded lectures, notes, and other study materials.
“Together, these technologies enable students to access high-quality live and recorded classes smoothly, even in areas with limited internet bandwidth,” says Chandrakant Agrawal – Co-Founder & CEO, AppSquadz – AWS Advanced Consulting Partner.
As we move online, security is also becoming very important. Tools like EduCrypt are now used to protect study materials from piracy, unauthorised access, and redistribution.
Meanwhile, the Union government has set apart a substantial ₹500 crore investment in AI for education, as outlined in the Union Budget 2025-26. It is poised to revolutionise the entire sector.
Of course, this shift comes with all the challenges associated with it.
Experts are careful to ensure we don’t lose human connection or become over-reliant on these gadgets. The goal is to augment education, not to replace a human teacher.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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