AI is here to stay. Especially in education. Will we fight, flee, or adapt?

Yesterday, I watched the movie Independence Day (1996), in which humanity was "unexpectedly" attacked by aliens.

I emphasize the quotation marks because by the time the city-sized alien ships began bombing people, governments had already known for decades that this attack was coming. The same topic is relevant today. The phenomenon is called AI, and it is not a science fiction movie where Will Smith turns off the power on the alien mother ship before the end of the world. This is real life.

Although it seems to us that the arrival of AI is as unexpected as the appearance of an alien ship in the blue sky, the truth is that it is more than half a century old news.

In 1956, the first AI conference was held, at which it was pointed out that, within a generation, machines would become more intelligent than humans. Even then, it was said that the world's economy, education, and all areas of life would be critically affected by this. In 1986, the first self-driving car was created; in 1998, Amazon integrated AI systems; in 2011, it was already possible to ask Siri, a primitive artificial intelligence assistant, what the weather was like and ask her to call your mother.

We have now reached the point where this new world is upon us. But what are we doing? Some are shouting that this is a pointless trend, others want to ban it, and still others are burying their heads in the sand, hoping it will pass.

AI IS HERE TO STAY

It is estimated that 49% of Japan's workforce will be replaced by artificial intelligence or robots within 10-20 years. 30% of jobs in the UK are at risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence, with 35% of men's jobs and 26% of women's jobs at high risk. Over the next 5 years, 73 million people in the US will lose their jobs.

I apologize in advance for making you feel nauseous; we have a whole generation of people who will not be able to catch up with this AI train. Why? Because learning new systems requires learning skills, and we have not been adequately educated for this. Yes, but the battle between machines and humans lies with our children. To do that, however, we need to change education, and we need to do it now.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

The soft expression "children are our future" has now become a harsh reality. We should end this silly debate about whether education and AI should go hand in hand and start working quickly to ensure that the children who are being educated in the school system today will actually benefit from it in 10 years.

I am neither stupid nor naive; I know what the state of education is. I know that in Tallinn alone, there is a shortage of more than 300 teachers. I know that teachers cannot keep up with every new trend. I know that classes are large. I know that teachers are buckling under the heavy workload. And I will leave my comments on the bubble of inclusive education for another time.

But you know what? I don't care.

We can bury our heads in the sand and continue with the same school system we've had for the last few decades, but then we'll let machines take over our world.

How so? Today's school system creates limited thinkers who perform repetitive tasks with the same knowledge, having memorized a vast amount of facts, which they present in a calculated manner, and then are evaluated. The harsh truth is that all activities that are repetitive, mechanical in nature, and primarily based on average knowledge will sooner or later be performed by machines. Considering how fast AI is developing in the world, it will probably be sooner rather than later.

Graduates look back on their school days with trembling shoulders and swear that they will steer clear of school in the future. The new world needs adults who love learning, who can adapt quickly, think creatively, and, most importantly, who can do something better than a machine.

MORE EMPHASIS ON PERSONALIZED EDUCATION

In traditional education, the system is straightforward—the same systems, the same knowledge, the same assessment criteria. Education in the new era needs a personal approach. Again, don't be offended, don't say I'm naive. I already mentioned that I know the system has its "hands tied." But who else will untie the hands of this system if not us?

If we could offer students a sense of achievement through innovative learning – experiential learning, finding connections, giving meaning, creating links between knowledge and the real world, managing emotions in processes, and developing creative thinking – their learning experience would also change. Perhaps some of these inspired young people who have discovered a natural talent for teaching would go on to study further so that they could create even more inspiring education themselves?

HOME MUST ALSO MAKE AN EFFORT

Mother Theresa always said that if you start by cleaning your own doorstep, the world will immediately become a much cleaner place.

As humanity, we are all in this change together. Perhaps it is time to stop thinking, "What are they doing at school that I still have to teach my children myself?"

I teach one child at home, precisely because he needs an individual approach. Of course, it's a challenge, but it's also my responsibility. The experience of success gives me strength – both for myself and for him.

I threw away my old, outdated nature textbook, which required me to learn the names of 15 plants and then write them down in my workbook.

I handed them Google Lens, ChatGPT, and an interactive map. An hour later, all the plants in the house had been identified, summaries had been made with ChatGPT, and they had been placed on the map—their growing locations, climate, and preferences known. It's also interesting that if you know the Monstera in your room thrives in the Amazon jungle and requires a humid growing environment, you'll water it more. Suddenly, the jungle had moved from paper to the school desk.

WE ARE FIRST THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE IN SOCIETY

Let's not mold our children into cookie-cutter versions of ourselves.

Ask your child what they are good at, what they like, and conversely, what they don't want to learn at all. Let them train their strengths to the maximum and use AI tools to hide their weaknesses. This leaves more time to focus on their strengths – because learning everything "normally" actually trains them to be average. Let's support their natural talents and strengths – because this may be something that gives them an advantage over machines in the future.

Let's not be "Karens."

We've probably all gotten into the habit of interacting with children when something is wrong, when they need to be disciplined, told to clean their room, or simply told to "listen to us," and scolded with "I told you so." Let's not be Karens. Let's talk to children about the world, philosophize, speak of time and space – let's be an inspiration to them as people, not just as their educators.

Let's teach more values, less knowledge.

Knowledge is much more accessible than values. Let's focus on that. Let's teach them unchanging values – empathy, honesty, caring, closeness, maintaining relationships, tenderness, and love, including for themselves.

The point we have reached today as humans was known 67 years ago. This is not a sudden change. But it is definitely high time to start taking real action. As adults, we have a responsibility to create learning opportunities for our children so that they will have something to offer machines in the future.

It is the month of wisdom. Let us be wise. Let us adapt.