Why AI Makes Educators More Important Than Ever

As AI becomes an integral part of our daily lives, the real question isn’t how it works but how we can use it to enhance both ourselves and the world around us. Whether you’re a teacher, a manager, or a parent, everyone of us has the power to be an educator, a coach, or a mentor in this new era where AI is playing a transformative role. The challenge lies in curating a mindset that moves away from seeing AI and humans as competing forces and instead embraces a hybrid approach that leverages the strengths of both. From an ‘either-or’ logic we are tasked to reframe our mindset to ‘And’.

The Power of Natural Intelligence

Natural intelligence—the capacity to learn, grow, and adapt—is the driving force behind personal transformation and social progress. When a student learns to collaborate better with classmates, that change can ripple out, enhancing the entire classroom environment. Similarly, when a team member at work develops new skills, it can inspire innovation and productivity throughout the workplace. This kind of personal growth, powered by natural intelligence, is essential for broader social change, whether it’s addressing climate challenges or advancing social justice. Organizations like the Center for Humane Technology emphasize how technology, when used thoughtfully, can enhance human well-being, showing us that the path forward is not AI or humanity, but both working together.

AI as a Support System, Not a ReplacementAI has the potential to be a powerful ally in this process, but its value depends on how we integrate it. Take personalized learning tools, for example. AI-driven platforms can adapt to a student’s unique learning style, offering tailored exercises that help them master difficult subjects at their own pace. But their effectiveness hinges on how well they complement, rather than replace, the role of the teacher. The World Economic Forum discusses how AI can enhance education by supporting teachers, not supplanting them, ensuring that the human element remains central.

In healthcare, AI systems can analyze patient data to create personalized treatment plans. However, for these tools to be truly effective, doctors must still rely on their natural intelligence—experience, intuition, and empathy—to interpret AI’s insights and make decisions that best serve their patients. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is exploring how AI can improve healthcare outcomes while maintaining the essential human touch.

A Practical Framework: 4x4x2x2To effectively harness AI in daily life—whether in the classroom, the workplace, or the home—we can follow a simple framework of four assets, four attitudes, two skills, and two values. This approach helps ensure that AI supports and enhances human potential rather than diminishing it.

4 Assets:

1. Attitude – From Passive to Proactive: Encourage active engagement with AI. For example, students or colleagues can use AI tools to create projects that address real-world problems, like developing an app or finding solutions for community issues. The Partnership on AI provides resources on how to engage with AI proactively for societal benefit.
2. Approach – From Misalignment to Hybrid Alignment: Use AI tools in ways that align with educational and personal goals. For instance, rather than relying solely on digital resources, combine them with hands-on activities that reinforce learning, such as using AI to simulate real-world experiments. EDUCAUSE offers insights into how to effectively integrate AI into education to support hybrid learning.
3. Ability – Double Literacy: Cultivate both brain literacy (natural intelligence) and algorithmic literacy (AI understanding). This could mean teaching not just how to solve problems but how AI can help identify patterns in data to enhance problem-solving. The AI4ALL organization focuses on building this double literacy, particularly among underrepresented groups.
4. Aspiration – Fulfill Potential: Use AI to create opportunities for everyone to reach their potential. For example, language translation apps can help non-native speakers fully engage in discussions, breaking down barriers to learning. The UNESCO report on AI in Education provides a comprehensive overview of how AI can support educational inclusion.

4 Attitudes:

1. Awareness: Raise awareness of AI’s impact on our lives, from social media algorithms to personalized ads. Discuss how these technologies shape our decisions and how they can be used responsibly. For example The AI Now Institute offers resources for understanding AI’s societal impacts.
2. Appreciation: Foster appreciation for the strengths of both natural and artificial intelligence. While AI can quickly process data, human creativity and critical thinking are irreplaceable in developing innovative solutions. The Future of Life Institute explores the complementary roles of humans and AI in creating a better future.
3. Acceptance: Encourage acceptance of who we are and what we can achieve with AI. This involves understanding individual learning styles and how AI can support unique needs. The Inclusive Design Research Centre provides strategies for designing AI tools that respect individual differences and promote acceptance.
4. Accountability: Instill accountability in the ethical use of AI. For example, emphasize the importance of data privacy and how to protect personal information online. The Data & Society Research Institute offers insights into the ethical use of AI and the need for accountability in technology.

2 Skills:

1. Brain Literacy: Develop critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. Use AI as a complement, like AI-driven writing assistants that suggest improvements while allowing students or colleagues to refine their ideas. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) provides resources for integrating technology to enhance brain literacy.
2. Algorithmic Literacy: Teach how AI works and how it can be leveraged effectively. This could be as simple as understanding how search engines rank results or as complex as coding AI models. Code.org is a great resource for teaching algorithmic literacy, making coding accessible to all.

2 Values:

1. Compassion: Use AI to foster empathy and understanding. For instance, AI can help simulate different perspectives in history classes or workplace training, allowing people to explore various viewpoints and develop a deeper understanding of social issues. The Empathy Project is a notable initiative focused on using technology to build empathy.
2. Generosity: Promote AI as a tool for creating abundance and sharing knowledge. Collaborative AI platforms can bring people together from around the world to work on projects, sharing resources and insights that benefit everyone.

Aligning Aspirations and ActionsGenuine benefit from AI in the long run, requires doubled alignment in the short run. We need to align our aspirations—what we want to achieve—with our actions, and our aspirations with the algorithms that power AI. This means not just using AI for efficiency but for meaningful impact. For example, in environmental science, students could use AI to model the impact of conservation efforts on local ecosystems, turning data into actionable insights that drive real-world change.

Moving Forward: Agency Amid AI for All

Ultimately as we are transitioning this unfamiliar new territory of life with AI the goal our goal could be to systematically create a mindset where AI is not seen as a threat, but as an ally in the quest for a better future. In this context everyone has the potential to be an educator, a coach, or a mentor. By instilling the right assets, attitudes, skills, and values, we can all guide ourselves and help others through a hybrid world. Combining artificial and natural assets we might have a real chance of a future where everyone has a chance to fulfill their potential, whilst ensuring that technology serves humanity, not the other way around.