The idea of AI replacing teachers is making headlines—and raising eyebrows. While the teaching profession continues to offer job security in many places, finding and retaining qualified educators remains a challenge. From my experience working in schools and serving on hiring committees, I’ve seen just how hard it is to fill these essential roles.
However, last week, I saw a headline that Bill Gates said AI will replace teachers in the next 10 years. He made the comment while on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. You can read about his appearance here.
This is the first time I have heard someone actually say it. Yes, I have heard people wonder, and I have heard it’s something people fear, but this is the first time someone whose opinion means something to people predicted that AI will replace teachers.
Of course, this kind of statement hits home. I have no doubt that AI will become an amazing tutor for kids and that AI will help differentiate and personalize learning for our students. But to say AI is going to replace teachers is hard to believe.
I chose to agree with Matt Miller (the Ditch the Textbook Guy). He wrote a blog, “Why Artificial Intelligence Won’t Replace Teachers” where he made some really great points. Most of his arguments relate back to the fact that AI isn’t human. Humans offer empathy, a social component, and teaching isn’t just an informational delivery system. When I first started teaching, a mentor teacher tried to warn me about all the hats you wear as a teacher. I didn’t truly understand until I was consoling a student who didn’t make the basketball team.
This is not to say that I think the day to day of a teacher won’t change. I do believe the activities, assignments, assessments, even classroom layouts will change significantly over the next 10 years. In fact, if they don’t, we will be doing our students a tremendous disservice.
