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By Sal Khan
Founder and CEO, Khan Academy
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I've spent nearly two decades building technology to personalize education, including some of the earliest AI-powered tutoring systems. So it may come as a surprise when I say this: In the age of artificial intelligence, the most important innovation in education is still the teacher.
That's not a sentimental talking point. It's a lesson grounded in data, experience, and hard-won insight from working with nearly 1.5 million students across more than 500 school districts.
Take Newark, New Jersey. Even before the introduction of AI, when they brought technology into their classrooms, they didn't just hand out devices or flip a switch. They did the hard and necessary human work. Teachers were given time to plan and space to teach. They got real training, ongoing support, and clear goals tied to real student growth. And those goals were tracked and discussed regularly—not just by teachers, but by administrators and district leaders, too.
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The results speak volumes: More than 50 percent of students in Newark, New Jersey engaged in the platform at a level to make meaningful academic gains. In a time when many large urban districts are watching test scores stagnate or decline, Newark is seeing math scores rise.
To be clear, Newark's gains were not the result of AI. They came from educators using digital tools with purpose and keeping people at the center. Technology was treated as a support, not a silver bullet. With AI now entering the picture, Newark can give teachers more time for teaching and give students more personalized attention. We're looking forward to seeing what comes next.
I wish I could say that the story in Newark is the norm. In many districts, there's a genuine eagerness to adopt new technology, driven by hope and good intentions. But without a clear plan, it can be difficult to give teachers the support and time they need for effective implementation. A shared vision can make all the difference and when it's missing, it's no surprise that the tools see limited use and fall short of their full potential.
The difference between success and stagnation isn't the software. It's the system around it, the human system. That's precisely what makes teaching so uniquely important in the age of AI.
In a time when many worry about AI replacing jobs, teaching may be one of the most resilient professions because it thrives on what no machine can replicate: trust, encouragement, and connection.
The best teachers don't just transmit information. They light a fire. They look a child in the eye and say, "I believe in you." They model patience, perseverance, and curiosity. That curiosity is sparked by the interesting and relevant projects and conversations teachers lead in classrooms. No AI can do that. But AI, used well, can help teachers do it better. It can give them back time, surface insights, and personalize learning so that their students are working right at the edge of their abilities—the zone where real learning happens. AI and technology can help students get those essential at-bats that drive real learning.
This is the great paradox of our moment: just as AI reaches extraordinary new heights, we're being called to go deeper into what makes us human. We don't have to choose between algorithms and empathy. But we do have to choose what comes first.
Let's let teachers lead the way. Let's build systems where technology serves learning, not the other way around. And let's remember that in an age of artificial intelligence, our greatest strength may be our human wisdom.
Sal Khan is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit educational organization Khan Academy.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
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