Opinion
AI applications for education systems - the unfulfilled opportunity
"AI in education is no longer a future concept or a pilot project. The real question is no longer if AI should be used, but how," writes Max Azarov, CEO and co-founder of Novakid.
Artificial intelligence is one of the greatest opportunities to improve education systems and learning outcomes for hundreds of millions of students worldwide since the invention of the blackboard and chalk. In a very short time, interactive AI applications with powerful capabilities have entered both formal education systems and informal learning environments. These tools can identify each student’s level, match content precisely to their needs, route the right exercises, provide immediate feedback, repeat material where improvement is required, and allow students to progress at their own pace.
What AI does not do is replace teachers. The real value of AI is that it replaces parts of learning that never worked well in the first place: slow feedback, uniform pacing, limited practice time, and overloaded teachers. Teachers remain central to education. They create emotional connection, build trust, motivate students, and understand the human context behind learning difficulties. These abilities are essential and cannot be automated.
In practice, AI works best as a personal learning assistant that operates quietly alongside the teacher. By continuously analyzing learning behavior, such as hesitation, repetition, errors, and progress over time, AI provides insights that no traditional grading system can deliver. This allows teachers to understand exactly where a student is struggling and why, and to respond with much greater precision. The result is not less human teaching, but better human teaching.
AI-driven learning applications also include interactive and gamified elements that significantly increase student engagement. This matters because many students do not fail due to lack of ability, but due to loss of motivation and confidence. Immediate feedback, adaptive challenges, and safe spaces for practice help students stay engaged, reduce frustration, and build confidence before gaps become failures. This is especially important in subjects that require repetition and practice, such as languages, mathematics, and sciences.
The integration of AI into education systems benefits not only students and teachers, but entire countries. Many systems struggle with teacher shortages, uneven quality, and growing demands for digital and language skills. AI makes it possible to personalize learning at scale while freeing teachers from repetitive and administrative tasks. Teachers spend less time managing and more time teaching. Students receive more practice, better feedback, and clearer learning paths.
One of the most important impacts of AI in education is its ability to reduce inequality. High-quality, personalized learning was once available mainly through private tutoring. Today, AI makes this level of personalization accessible to many more students. A child’s geographic location becomes less relevant, and access to quality learning becomes broader. This creates real opportunities for students in developing countries and peripheral regions to participate in the global knowledge economy.
Given these advantages, the market for AI applications in education is one of the most promising technology verticals of the coming decade. In 2024, the global market reached $5.88 billion and is expected to grow to $32.27 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 31.2%. Growth is driven by demand for personalized learning, teacher support tools, language learning, and workforce training, areas where AI delivers clear and measurable value.
The modern economy will be built on AI technologies, and education systems cannot remain unchanged. AI in education is no longer a future concept or a pilot project. The real question is no longer if AI should be used, but how. Systems that use AI to personalize learning, support teachers, reduce administrative burden, and maintain strong human connection will give their students a significant long-term advantage.
For Israeli entrepreneurs, this represents a real and still underutilized opportunity. The core technologies already exist. What is needed now is thoughtful implementation that puts teachers and students first. Human teachers should remain responsible for motivation, connection, and meaning. AI should provide personalized practice, insight, and scale. When used this way, AI can pave the way towards education that is more personal, more engaging, and far more effective than in the past.
Max Azarov is CEO and co-founder of the online English learning platform Novakid.
