The conversation must shift from ‘AI vs. Education’ to how it can be used responsibly to enhance learning and support teachers in meaningful ways, says Stewart Monk, Senior Vice President and General Manager, International at PowerSchool 

Across the Middle East and beyond, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant innovation; it’s becoming a foundational part of how education systems operate. From lesson planning and assessment to student support and performance tracking, AI is rapidly reshaping the classroom experience.  

To understand just some of the promises of AI, think for a moment about your own experience in a classroom as a child. For many of us there were lessons where sometimes we felt we were falling behind in our understanding of the subject, sometimes we were a little ahead of our classmates but the subject itself was taught the same way to all the students in the room. One curriculum to one class. With AI we have the opportunity to personalise that learning experience for every student. By interpreting the data we already have on each student, AI can offer real-time help to support learning responsibly and in context.  

AI’s promise goes further than personalised learning. AI can reduce administrative burdens, identify learning gaps in real time and help educators respond more precisely to student needs. In a region investing heavily in education reform and digital transformation, these capabilities present an exciting opportunity.  

We recently conducted an AI in Education survey in collaboration with YouGov, gathering insights from more than 300 educators across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The findings reflected both optimism and urgency, with 90% of teacher respondents saying AI tools have had a positive impact on their day-to-day roles. However, 94% believe their schools are not yet leveraging AI to its full potential. Perhaps most telling, 56% of educators estimate they could save between 10 and 15 hours per week if AI were used to automate assessments, freeing up time that could be reinvested in teaching, mentoring and student engagement.  

While these efficiencies are compelling, they also highlight a deeper responsibility. As AI becomes more embedded in the schooling ecosystem, we must ensure that its integration reinforces, and not erodes, the core values of education such as curiosity, critical thinking, creativity and human connection. The concern is not with AI itself but with how it is used. When students rely solely on AI-generated answers for assignments, they risk missing out on the critical learning process of asking questions, exploring ideas and building the cognitive resilience that comes from doing the work themselves. It also runs the risk of enforcing bias or introducing subjects that are not appropriate to the wider learning environment that a student resides in.  

This is why the conversation must move beyond whether AI should be used in education and focus instead on how it should be used, ethically, intentionally, and in ways that complement the human element at the heart of teaching.  

Ethics must play a central role in how AI is developed and deployed in education. Transparency, fairness and data privacy are not optional; they are foundational. AI systems must be designed to mitigate bias, protect student data and promote equitable access for all learners. This means working together with educators to ensure the technology empowers them, not overwhelms them.  

Teachers are more than facilitators of content, they are mentors, motivators and trusted guides. No AI tool can replicate the relationships and emotional support that teachers provide, but with the right training, AI can enhance their work. It can streamline routine tasks, generate real-time feedback and offer early alerts on student progress, all of which allow teachers to spend more time doing what matters most — connecting with students and supporting their growth.  

Equally important is equipping students with the skills to use AI responsibly. We must help them understand that these tools are not merely replacements for learning but companions in the process. They must learn to use AI ethically and mindfully, avoiding overdependence and developing a healthy relationship with technology that supports, not hinders, their development.

The future of education in the Middle East will be defined by balance. Innovation must be pursued with intention, and technology should be used to elevate the human experience, not overshadow it. AI should be seen as a partner in this journey—one that can unlock potential, improve outcomes and reimagine what learning can look like when technology and humanity work hand in hand.  

It’s time to move beyond the binary debate of ‘AI vs. Education’ and ask a more meaningful question: how can we harness AI to amplify the very best of what educators already do? The way we answer that question will shape not just the classrooms of tomorrow but the futures they prepare us for.