On the third day of India AI Impact Summit 2026, world leaders gathered to consider how AI in education can move beyond pilot programs to widespread adoption in classrooms. The session, entitled “AI and Education: From Innovation to Impact”, was hosted in cooperation with the Estonian Embassy and focused on the responsible, ethical and fair implementation of AI in public education.
While AI tools are already being implemented in schools, experts emphasized that their success depends not just on the technology itself, but on empowering teachers, promoting inclusive learning, and building trust through ethical implementation.
trend of Introducing AI in the classroom
The adoption of AI in education is accelerating around the world. Industry estimates predict that AI in education market will grow at a CAGR of 37.2% between 2024 and 2032. Currently, 60% of educators are integrating AI in their classrooms, and 44% are using AI for research purposes.
AI-powered educational games are also growing in popularity, with 51% of teachers using these tools more than other AI applications.
Although implementation is progressing, challenges remain. Sixty-five percent of teachers cite plagiarism in writing as a concern, but the public is divided. 33% of U.S. adults believe AI adoption is having a negative impact on education, while 32% believe it is having positive outcomes.
Despite this, 60% of teachers believe that the use of AI in the classroom will expand significantly over the next decade, demonstrating a long-term commitment to responsibly integrating AI.
AI in education: Scaling AI responsibly and equitably
The President of the Republic of Estonia, Arar Kallis, emphasized the importance of education in making AI effective.
“AI is already being implemented in schools, and students and teachers are using it on a daily basis.The question is therefore not whether we use AI, but whether everyone is using it consciously, critically, and responsibly.When this AI What matters most in the future is not how smart the machines are, but how smart the people who use them are. Education is the key, and Estonia has a dedicated policy to introduce AI into schools and education quickly and at scale.
President Kallis also emphasized the role of AI literacy in democratic participation.
“In line with our policy, we are working to ensure that the majority of Estonia’s population acquires knowledge of basic AI tools and that half of them acquire at least intermediate to international level AI skills. Our promotion of AI in education will focus on helping learning, just as digital AI in governance helps serve people better. Above all, AI education needs to be transparent and ethical. This creates trust and leads to a desire to learn.”
Teachers at the heart of ethical AI
Mary N. Kelema, OGW Secretary for ICT, e-Government and Digital Economy of the Republic of Kenya, emphasized that teachers are central to successful AI implementation.
“We realize that if we don’t leverage technology, we will be left behind. But the most stable and capable infrastructure in education is the teacher. They may have limited connectivity and devices, but there will always be a teacher in the classroom. That’s why AI training for teachers must be a priority. Empowering teachers will lead to clear and ethical use of AI, because it all starts in the classroom.”
Dr. Pia Rebello-Britt, UNICEF Global Director of Education, emphasized that AI needs to enhance public education, not circumvent it.
“In most low- and middle-income countries, almost 70% of 10-year-olds cannot read or understand simple texts. With significant advances in technology such as AI, hundreds of millions of children are at risk of being left behind. When we talk about AI and education, We shouldn’t talk about marginal gains. We should talk about how innovation can reverse structural inequalities. What creates equity is an ecosystem that supports teachers, protects children, and holds public systems accountable.”
Learning outcomes beyond automation
Professor Petri Milimäki from the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence emphasized the need to prioritize learning.
“When ChatGPT was launched, there was panic. Everyone thought that students wouldn’t learn anything because the AI would write all the essays for them. But then we realized that you can always outsource essays. It’s become easier. The point of education is not to create new essays in the world, but to learn something in the process. By all means, use AI tools, but make sure the learning happens.”
Ivo Visak, CEO of AI LEAP in Estonia, added that public trust and a structured pedagogy are important.
“This is not just a concern of the Ministry of Education and Research, but a national issue. We also have Estonian companies supporting this initiative, and there is public trust in such programs. When there is trust, people will follow. But you cannot break that trust. You have to deliver results. That is why we have a strong educational plan behind it, backed by technology, rather than a technical program backed by pedagogy.”
2026: The year of realization
The panel concluded that 2026 must be the year of AI initiatives in education, with coordinated national strategies, teacher-centered capacity development, interoperable digital infrastructure, and strong public governance. With widespread adoption and rapid market growth, it is clear that AI must empower teachers, protect learners, and promote equitable learning outcomes.
As world leaders have emphasized, AI in education is not just about technology, but about people, pedagogy, and trust.
How effectively these elements come together will determine whether AI becomes a transformative force in classrooms around the world or a tool that fills an existing gap.
