Education has long been heralded as society’s great leveller, but the reality often falls short. The Education Policy Institute reports that disadvantaged students within the UK are, at the point of completion of their GCSEs, 18 months behind their peers. Similarly, according to a study undertaken by the Sutton Trust, only 16% of students from low-income backgrounds progress to higher education, compared to 75% from more affluent families. These disparities highlight a system in need of transformation—and artificial intelligence (AI) might just be the catalyst we’ve been waiting for.
But AI’s role in education isn’t without controversy. From fears of students using it to “cheat” to concerns about over-reliance on technology, the debate is as heated as it is important. Yet, when used thoughtfully, AI has the potential to revolutionise learning, making it more inclusive, personalised, and aligned with the demands of the modern workforce.
AI as the great equaliser: Making learning accessible to all
One of AI’s most transformative powers lies in its ability to upskill and fast-track individuals from diverse backgrounds into tech roles. Take students with learning differences like dyslexia, for instance. AI tools can convert text to audio, create visual representations, or adjust text displays to make reading more accessible. This isn’t about making learning easier—it’s about making it possible for everyone, regardless of their cognitive strengths or challenges.
Similarly, consider how AI-driven personal learning helps individuals create bespoke learning paths. AI enables access to complex educational materials by summarising large documents, generating study guides, and even providing interactive learning experiences. Tools like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) power learners to extract relevant insights from different datasets, making knowledge more digestible and accessible. This way, AI doesn’t just facilitate learning—it personalises it, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their learning styles, educational backgrounds and dispositions, can tailor it to their needs.
Importantly, leveraging AI to simplify education isn’t a one-way street. When companies or educational institutions create these learning programmes, it’s equally important to collaborate with diverse people to understand their experiences. This feedback mechanism helps create and later customise programmes that deliver personalised material, encouraging people to engage with the content, ask questions, and stay curious.
The UK government has already recognised the potential of AI in learning, investing over £1 million in EdTech companies which focus on AI-enabled solutions. However, the real magic lies not in the technology itself, but in how it’s used to break down barriers and create opportunities for all.
Bridging the gap between education and industry
While AI is making strides in inclusivity, there’s another gap it’s uniquely positioned to address: the disconnect between education and industry needs. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology recently reported that 44% of businesses in the UK have skills gaps in basic technical areas. Moreover, incident management skills gaps have increased from 27% in 2020 to 48% in 2024. According to the Prince’s Trust, this ‘digital skills gap’ already costs the UK economy up to £63 billion a year.
Traditional education often emphasises individual work, memorisation, and closed-book examinations—practices that are increasingly misaligned with workplace realities. This is because businesses prioritise collaboration, efficiency, and the effective use of technology. Employers expect new hires to seek mentorship, use AI tools, and work collaboratively—skills that many graduates struggle to adopt due to rigid academic training.
To bridge this gap, assessments ought to reflect workplace realities. For instance, collaborative evaluations can measure how students contribute to group knowledge and integrate diverse perspectives, while resource-inclusive tasks can test their ability to find, evaluate, and apply information, instead of merely recalling it. Similarly, AI-augmented projects can help students demonstrate their skills in using AI tools effectively, rather than pretending they don’t exist.
For educators, implementing AI requires a thoughtful approach. They could start by identifying specific learning challenges AI can address, invest in teacher development, and explore incremental implementations to build confidence. By prioritising equity, establishing clear guidelines, and fostering community dialogue, they can ensure AI enhances learning without reinforcing disparities for their students.
At its core, AI-driven learning isn’t just about technical skills—it also helps learners cultivate essential soft skills. Even basic tasks like prompt engineering, for instance, mirror the communication and problem-solving abilities needed in the workplace. Crafting clear and structured prompts requires the same skills used in team collaboration, instruction, and strategic thinking. Furthermore, AI can also provide real-time feedback and explanations, which helps learners develop critical thinking and adaptability—key traits for navigating careers.
The ethical dilemma: Balancing innovation with integrity
Of course, AI’s role in education isn’t devoid of challenges. The prevailing attitude in academia often equates AI use with academic dishonesty, rather than recognising its potential as a learning aid. The key is to establish guardrails that ensure responsible use, rather than imposing outright bans. For instance, when AI generates code, learners should analyse, refine, and validate the output through testing. Similarly, AI-generated learning materials should be used as a starting point for deeper engagement, not passive consumption.
At Ten10, we’ve seen firsthand how AI can transform learning when approached thoughtfully. By embedding AI in ways that mirror real-world applications, learners can develop both technical capabilities and the adaptability needed in a rapidly evolving tech landscape. The goal isn’t to treat AI as a shortcut but for learners to use it as a tool to tackle complex problems and spot areas for improvement in their work. This approach not only accelerates learning but also ensures individuals understand how to work with AI responsibly. It emphasises iterative problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration—skills that are just as vital as technical expertise in today’s workforce.
Finding the middle ground
The future of education lies in mindfully integrating AI and human expertise. AI excels at processing information, identifying patterns, and personalising content, while humans bring creativity, ethical reasoning, and interpersonal connection. When implemented well, AI doesn’t replace educators—it amplifies their impact, freeing their time to focus on honing the interpersonal and human aspects of learning.
This is why AI in education isn’t just about technology—it’s about opportunity and equipping every learner with the tools they need to succeed. The reality is that without bridging the gap between knowledge and industry, even the brightest of students will fail to keep up with today’s workforce.
However, by increasingly embracing AI as a learning enabler rather than a threat, we are helping build a new generation of students and professionals ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world—a space where they can access not just information, but transformation. That’s something worth getting right.
Ash Gawthorp
Ash Gawthorp is Chief Academy Officer at Ten10, offering consultancy and services across the technology engineering lifecycle including Business Analysis, Development, Quality Engineering and DevOps.
