Will AI replace teachers? Exploring the future of AI in education
Thomas Courtley
Teaching & Learning Lead
According to a survey by TeacherTapp, nearly half of teachers in the UK are already using AI to assist with their work. Some teachers question whether artificial intelligence is going to be truly beneficial for the quality of education, or if it’s not going to marginalise the role of educators.
Teachers and AI tools
Research shows that nearly half of the teachers in the UK are already using AI to assist with their work. This indicates that many educators see potential in AI tools to ease their workload. You might use it to generate lesson plans, tailor assessments for learning, or simplify administrative tasks. The appeal is clear: AI can save valuable time, allowing you to focus on the core of your profession—connecting and engaging with learners.
However, a critical limitation exists. Most of the AI tools currently in use are not specifically designed to align with the educational guidelines and frameworks of teaching standards. These frameworks ensure consistency, equity, and adherence to national objectives. Some of the AI tools available are not fully editable, controllable or customisable, making it difficult for you to add your unique human perspective.
Different points of view about AI
This brings up important questions about AI's role in education. Some teachers are optimistic, viewing AI as a tool to help them save time. Others express skepticism. Will reliance on AI gradually take over the human touch in teaching? Education is more than information delivery—it’s about building true connections, understanding learners, and adapting to unique dynamics. Many worry that becoming dependent on AI might reduce teaching to a mechanical process.
David Edwards, General Secretary of Education International, says, “To ensure widespread benefits in education, teachers must remain at the centre of conversations around AI.”
At the back of people’s minds looms a greater concern: in the future, could AI eventually replace teachers entirely? Will 'AI teachers' become a reality? Today’s AI systems function primarily as assistants, support tools, or administrative aids. However, rapid advancements in technology may one day allow AI to assume a far more central role in education.
What's being done to regulate AI in education
Governments around the world are working on clear guidelines and regulations to ensure AI is used responsibly in education, complementing human teachers rather than replacing them.
In the UK, for example, the Department for Education has released guidelines on the responsible use of technology, which include AI tools in education. The European Union has also introduced its Artificial Intelligence Act, an official document to regulate AI's use in various sectors, including education. This act has been created to ensure AI is used transparently, ethically, and in a way that respects fundamental rights.
Our take on this debate
While we can't predict the future, one thing is certain: we cannot imagine a classroom without teachers. The role of a teacher—guiding, inspiring, and supporting learners with compassion and understanding—is essential.
Currently, AI can assist you with routine tasks like grading, lesson planning, and generating assessments. While AI can save time, and is always accurate and data-driven, it lacks the ability to understand the unique nuances of individual students, or the specific interactions of a classroom. Without human oversight, purely AI-generated content risks becoming generic, and failing to address the social and emotional needs of learners.
Maia: an AI assistant that supports, not replaces
LessonUp's UK team recently attended an education event. Several teachers approached us asking if our platform was like 'TeacherMatic.' We hadn’t heard of it, so we looked it up afterwards and found that TeacherMatic is an AI toolkit designed to generate lesson plans, rubrics, worksheets, and other materials—similar to ChatGPT.
LessonUp, on the other hand, offers a different approach. It is an online teaching platform designed to make learning more engaging. Teachers can find, create, and teach interactive lessons, without needing to switch between platforms. With features like quiz questions, mind maps, hotspots, and videos, it ensures student participation and provides valuable insights into their learning. LessonUp also offers an embedded AI assistant, Maia—yet whether you choose to use AI assistance or not is up to you.
Maia as lesson-making assistant
Maia is entirely optional within our platform. You can create interactive lessons without using Maia at all. For those who choose to use it, Maia offers assistance by suggesting pedagogically sound lesson structures.
For example, Maia always suggests starting a lesson with a mind map to activate prior knowledge, and ending it with three open questions as an exit ticket reflection. Ultimately, you remain in full control. You set the prompts, revise and refine the lesson suggestions, and can add interactivity and personalisation to support students' needs and fit your teaching style.
Maia as AI for creating quizzes
Maia can also help you create quiz questions based on your lesson slides. If you already have a strong, well-researched lesson, Maia can pull content from your slides to create a set of quiz questions that you can choose from. This allows you to save time while ensuring your quizzes are relevant.
AI in education promises exciting possibilities, but it also raises significant concerns. Tools like LessonUp’s Maia illustrate how AI can play a valuable supporting role—saving you time and offering assistance, while still allowing you to maintain full control over your lessons. On the other hand, AI cannot replicate the empathetic connections that you have with your students. The human touch, combined with AI’s speed and precision, shows potential. Could this balance of technology and personal connection be the key to the future of education?
