As AI continues to weave its way into classrooms around the world, Khan Academy founder and CEO Sal Khan believes the real future of education won’t involve machines replacing teachers — but rather empowering them.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Khan painted a picture of AI not as a standalone instructor, but as a team of always-available teaching assistants. He likened the technology to “four or five amazing graduate students” working alongside a teacher in every classroom — helping grade assignments, design lessons, and track student engagement in real time.
“They’ll be on call for the teacher,” Khan said, “helping think of creative ideas, adjusting lessons, and supporting students as needed.”
AI Will Enhance Education Without Removing the Human Element
Rather than seeing AI as a threat to educators, Khan is championing it as a support layer in classrooms already under pressure. With teacher shortages, increasing workloads, and burnout reaching new highs, Khan sees AI as a practical solution to relieve strain and boost student learning.
The AI agents he describes would:
- Monitor student engagement and flag issues
- Recommend personalized adjustments to lesson plans
- Help teachers identify which students need extra attention
- Report observations in near real-time to both teachers and parents
It’s an approach that treats AI not as the answer, but as part of a stronger human-led system.
Social Learning and Accountability Still Belong to Humans
Khan also emphasized that AI won’t replace what matters most about school — human interaction. Learning, he said, isn’t just about content mastery. It’s about navigating social dynamics, building accountability, and learning how to be part of a community.
“The more AI advances, the more valuable these social and emotional skills become,” Khan explained. “And that’s where teachers are irreplaceable.”
In other words, no matter how sophisticated AI becomes, the human presence in a classroom will still be the anchor. Holding students accountable, noticing shifts in energy, or responding to emotional nuance — these are all areas where AI still falls short.
A Future Where AI and Teachers Work Together
For Khan, the dream scenario is one where students feel more seen, teachers are less overwhelmed, and parents get real-time insights — all supported by intelligent, responsible AI.
That vision may be closer than we think. Tools like Khanmigo, developed by Khan Academy in partnership with OpenAI, are already being tested in classrooms as AI-powered teaching aides.
Still, Khan acknowledges the concerns that come with this shift. From academic dishonesty to privacy risks, AI in education has its skeptics. But he believes that with thoughtful design and human guidance, AI can lift learning rather than dilute it.
“This could be a dream setup for students, teachers, and parents,” he said. “But only if we design it with the right intentions.”
AI Will Support Teachers But Not Replace Their Role
As AI becomes more capable, the temptation to automate everything grows stronger. But leaders like Sal Khan are pushing for a more grounded future — one where machines do the grunt work, and educators focus on what truly matters.
Because in a classroom filled with smart technology, it turns out the most important thing may still be the human being in the room.
