AI will be useful in education. - Sal Khan, creator of Khan Academy

Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, believes artificial intelligence will revolutionize education by providing personalized tutoring on a global scale.

In an interview with CONECTA, the news platform of Tec de Monterrey, he emphasized that AI should support teachers, not replace them. 

"Technology has the potential to bridge learning gaps," Khan said. "But the key is to use it as an assistant, not a substitute", Khan said. 

Khan Academy has already integrated AI tutors to offer real-time feedback to students. These tools assist in multilingual classrooms, helping children learn to read and adapt to different learning paces. 

"If you look at history, some of the most effective education came from one-on-one tutoring," he explained. "Think of Aristotle teaching Alexander the Great. AI can bring that model to millions." 

"Technology has the potential to bridge learning gaps... the key is to use it as an assistant, not a substitute".

Technology's improvement in education

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital education and widened learning gaps. Before the crisis, a ninth-grade classroom had students at three different learning levels. Now, Khan noted, it has six. 

"AI can help students progress at their own pace," he said. "This is essential to address the disparities caused by the pandemic." 

However, Khan warned that technology alone is not the solution. He advocates a blended model where AI handles routine tasks, allowing teachers to focus on deeper student engagement. 

At his Khan Lab School in California, AI is integrated into the curriculum, but human interaction remains central. "Education is about relationships," Khan stated. "Technology should enhance, not replace, that dynamic." 

Reflecting on Khan Academy’s origins, he recalled tutoring his cousin remotely in the early 2000s. This led to posting video lessons on YouTube and, eventually, developing the platform. 

"I never expected those early videos to turn into something global," he said. "But the demand for accessible education was clear." 

"AI can help students progress at their own pace"-Sal Khan

In 2010, funding from the Gates Foundation and Google enabled Khan Academy to scale its free resources worldwide. Today, millions of students use the platform. 

Looking ahead, Khan sees AI as a powerful tool to democratize education. "The question isn’t whether AI will be part of education," he said. "It’s how we use it responsibly to enhance learning." 

He reiterated that the goal is empowerment, not replacement. "Teachers will always be essential," Khan concluded. "Education must evolve to prepare students for a knowledge-driven future." 

Khan also highlighted the importance of ethical AI development in education. "We must ensure AI systems are transparent and fair," he stated. "Bias in algorithms can reinforce educational inequalities instead of solving them." 

He pointed out that AI should be designed to adapt to diverse learning styles. "Some students thrive with visual learning, while others prefer interactive methods. AI should cater to these differences." 

When asked about AI’s role in higher education, Khan suggested it could enhance research and mentorship. "AI can provide instant feedback on writing, coding, or problem-solving, allowing professors to focus on deeper discussions." 

He acknowledged concerns about AI dependency but emphasized balance. "We must teach students to think critically and not just rely on technology for answers. The goal is to develop independent learners." 

Khan Academy is working on AI tools to assess soft skills like creativity and collaboration. "Future careers will require more than just knowledge. AI should help students develop the skills needed to thrive in an evolving job market." 

He sees AI as a way to bring education to underserved regions. "Students in remote areas can access high-quality tutoring through AI, reducing disparities in educational opportunities." 

Khan closed by reiterating his vision. "AI in education is not about replacing teachers," he said. "It’s about making learning more personalized, accessible, and effective for everyone." 

"We need to be at the forefront of how to use it for good,".

Sal Khan Talks with Students

Khan also participated in a special talk with students from Tec de Monterrey.

There, he discussed with them some of the challenges that come with applying technology and Artificial Intelligence to education.

"Some people say, ‘We shouldn’t do this; AI can be used to cheat.’ And yes, these are real risks that we need to protect ourselves from.

"But we also need to invest in this. If we keep moving forward, AI will become cheaper and it will improve in quality, and we need to be at the forefront of how to use it for good,” Khan said.

He then stated:

"If we could use AI to assess skills in a richer, fairer, and more consistent way, we could expand the ways we teach, use, and assess knowledge".

Sharing educational tips

During the talk, Salman Khan also offered a series of tips for the teaching-learning process.

"It’s important to give students space to ask questions. Empathy plays a key role in teaching. It’s also fundamental not to be afraid to admit that we don’t know everything.

"One of the best things a student can hear from an expert is, ‘We don’t know for sure. Let’s find the answer together,’” Khan shared.

The founder of Khan Academy explained that, while teaching can be improved through feedback and learning about pedagogy, there are three key factors:

• Mastery of the subject
• Awareness of tone and how students perceive the teacher
• Treating students with genuine respect

About Salman Khan

American educator Salman Khan studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard Business School.

In 2008, he founded the nonprofit organization Khan Academy, a platform that originated from a series of math tutorials he created to help a cousin.

It is now available in 50 languages and is used in more than 190 countries.

He is also the author of the books The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined and Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing), among others.

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