AI won’t replace teachers. But it will expose complacency.

Great teaching is inherently human. It thrives on empathy, insight, and inspiration, qualities no AI, however sophisticated, can replicate authentically. Consider moments in your own teaching: noticing when a usually bright student seems withdrawn, recognising something is off. Many moons ago, I recall a morning when I noticed Anton, typically vibrant, staring blankly. A quick, quiet conversation revealed he hadn’t eaten; providing a simple snack helped him reengage. AI can’t sense such nuanced, human needs. Good teachers do this intuitively, often with a subtle glance or reassuring word.

Yet, being a teacher undeniably includes repetitive tasks: marking assessments, administrative paperwork and preparing lessons. These are precisely the tasks AI handles efficiently. But, alas! This is about assistance, not automation. If AI is doing everything you used to do, something’s gone seriously wrong. AI should enhance your practices, never replace your unique ability to understand and support students

. In 2015, the World Bank declared, “Technology won’t replace teachers, but teachers who use technology will probably replace those who do not.” A decade later, this truth resonates louder than ever. AI won’t remove passionate educators from classrooms; rather, educators who stubbornly resist innovation or slide into mediocrity risk falling behind.

Around the world, educators face significant external pressures: challenging workloads, expensive resources, and escalating expectations. It's understandable why some might over-rely on AI shortcuts, but this context should inspire thoughtful use, not justify careless reliance

. The danger isn't AI taking over the classroom, but educators deploying it without scrutiny. Ask yourself: would you use AI-generated worksheets without adjustment or thought, would you passively accept AI-generated quiz questions that lack any real educational value? Such carelessness weakens education, undermining our fundamental role as thoughtful facilitators of learning.

A recent Forbes survey (2025) revealed 76% of teachers feel inadequately prepared to integrate AI effectively. This statistic underscores an urgent need for meaningful training and thoughtful engagement rather than passive dependence.

Just because a machine can create something doesn’t mean it’s ready for students. Genuine human insight, sensitivity, and contextual awareness are non-negotiable. AI-generated material often lacks context sensitivity and emotional intelligence, making critical human review essential. Without careful scrutiny, unchecked AI could lead to superficial learning experiences or even misunderstandings. Teaching, at its core, remains an emotional, deeply human exchange that no machine can authentically replicate.

This reflection isn’t limited to teachers, either. Students are also rapidly embracing AI. A 2024 global survey found that 86% of students regularly use AI tools for study purposes, with over half doing so weekly (Digital Education Council, 2024). This widespread use demands educators engage actively and creatively, not passively. AI, in this sense, will act as a mirror, reflecting back our strengths and weaknesses as educators. Perhaps this is positive. AI challenges us to move beyond formulaic lessons or superficial assessments. If you’re dedicated and passionate, AI validates rather than threatens your practice. If not, perhaps AI is your wake-up call.

We’ve already seen this clearly in medicine. In 2025, a major German study found that radiologists assisted by AI detected nearly 18% more breast cancers compared to human-only teams, without increasing false positives (Nature Medicine, 2025). AI didn’t replace the doctors; it made them better. But even then, experts caution this isn’t a miracle cure: long-term outcomes need careful evaluation, and the true benefit comes from thoughtful integration of AI with human oversight, rather than blind reliance.

Education can learn from this. When humans thoughtfully partner with AI, extraordinary outcomes follow. To achieve this, every school needs clear guidelines on AI usage:

• Purposeful Use: Clearly define your educational goals. •    Transparent Policies: Explicitly state what’s acceptable.

•    Continuous Training: Provide regular professional development.

•    Human-in-the-Loop: Ensure AI content is always human-reviewed.

Tomorrow, reflect on one AI-assisted task: Did it genuinely enhance your teaching or merely save time? Your answer will be telling.

Let’s revisit our initial statement: teaching is a profoundly human endeavor. In his essay, “Will the Humanities Survive Artificial Intelligence?” (New Yorker, 2025), Dr Graham Burnett argues that AI’s true power isn’t about replacing human effort; it’s about compelling us to reconsider what human effort really means. AI won’t replace teachers. But it will remind us what teaching has always truly been about.

And that’s a revolution worth embracing.

Written by Andy Perryer, Head of Digital Learning at Cognita Schools