Throughout history, new technologies—from the printing press to the Internet—have reshaped how we learn. Today, through the growth of AI, we are at the start of the next big step.
The world has made incredible progress in expanding access to education, with 90% of primary school age children now enrolled in school. But students around the world still face significant challenges. Many societies lack access to high-quality educational resources, and experts estimate that the world will need 44 million more teachers by 2030. These trends are putting pressure on our education systems, but we believe that artificial intelligence can help.
To realize this potential, AI learning tools must help students cultivate deep understanding, not just provide quick answers. They must ignite curiosity and engage students in a process of discovery – not offer a shortcut.
Our goal at Google is not to replace the essential human elements of learning and teaching, but to support educators and to make learning more efficient, effective and engaging – not just for school, but for work and lifelong curiosity. The Internet helped people access information. AI can help them understand and apply it in a way that reflects their individual learning preferences and interests.
Our tools built for learners
Our tools for learning are purpose-built and grounded in best-in-class learning science. The AI models that drive them are rooted in pedagogical principles and developed in collaboration with learning experts to enable real learning.
For example, Gemini people may choose a guided learning path that helps them find the answer instead of just giving it away. We’ve also added ways to make YouTube and Search more conversational, so students can ask questions while learning on these platforms. NotebookLM helps you study better by using your own sources and turning content into quizzes, flashcards or immersive audio or video experiences. For instructors, our free AI tools in Google Classroom can act as powerful assistants, helping with lesson planning and administrative tasks, so teachers can focus on what’s most important: inspiring and supporting their students.
Our commitment to responsibility
We also know that AI introduces important questions that we need to solve together. Issues such as cheating, fair access, accuracy, security and ensuring that AI promotes rather than erodes critical thinking are top of mind for us.
We are particularly focused on helping the education community navigate challenges to academic integrity. That means helping students—and students everywhere—develop the AI skills necessary to use these tools to their fullest advantage. This includes experimenting with ways to rethink assessment for an AI-enabled world, including by shifting to forms of assessment that AI cannot easily replicate, such as in-class debates, portfolio projects and oral exams.
Ultimately, the promise of AI for learning will not be achieved alone. We are committed to understanding and incorporating the perspectives of educators, parents, policy makers and students into our learning tools and ensuring their benefits are distributed equally around the world.
By carefully combining the art of teaching with the science of learning, we want to help everyone reach their full potential.