Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly moved from being a buzzword to a force reshaping industries, triggering debates around automation, job losses, and the future of work. While sectors like information technology continue to face layoffs as automation expands, the education sector is witnessing a different kind of transformation, one that promises more personalised learning without replacing teachers.
Over the past few years, AI has begun influencing how students learn, how professionals upskill, and how schools support classroom teaching. By 2026, AI-based learning tools are expected to significantly change everyday learning experiences for students, especially in large classrooms where individual attention has always been a challenge.
Sumeet Mehta, CEO and Co-Founder, LEAD Group, believes AI could finally solve a problem schools have struggled with for decades. "By 2026, AI will help schools support every child at their own learning level, without increasing teacher workload," he said.
Mehta pointed out that most classrooms have 30 to 40 students with varying learning abilities, making personalised attention difficult even for experienced teachers. AI-based learning systems, he said, can bridge this gap by adapting learning to each child's pace and level.
One of the biggest shifts will be seen in how students practise and revise lessons. Instead of uniform homework or worksheets, AI-driven platforms will allow students to work at their individual learning level, receive instant feedback, and correct mistakes early. LEAD Group is developing "Ms Curie", a one-to-one AI teaching assistant designed to support individual practice in areas such as reading fluency, mathematical problem-solving, and application-based science learning.
"Ms Curie works after the teacher has set the learning context in the classroom. This allows students to progress at their own pace, while teachers stay focused on instruction, explanation, and guidance," Mehta explained. The company is also working on "Socrates", a conversational AI assistant aimed at helping teachers improve classroom practices and enabling school leaders to intervene early using real-time learning data.
As routine tasks like practice tracking, basic assessments, and data analysis become automated, teachers are expected to gain more time for activities that require a human touch, discussions, motivation, mentoring, and emotional support.
Experts also stress that schools must rethink what students learn in an AI-driven world. Beyond using AI tools, students will need to understand how AI works, develop computational thinking, grasp algorithms, and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs. At the same time, skills such as creativity, ethical reasoning, adaptability, and independent learning will become increasingly important.
The larger goal, educators say, is not to prepare students for today's jobs but to equip them to think critically, create responsibly, and navigate a future shaped by AI. The real promise of AI-based learning systems lies not in replacing teachers, but in building stronger schools, where teachers are better supported, school leaders have clearer insights, and every child receives the attention they need.
