Education technology entering 2027 will be shaped by AI tutors, adaptive learning, AI literacy, skills-focused education and stronger safeguards as schools, universities and learning platforms prioritise effective, responsible and human-centred uses of technology.
AI tutors could become more personalized
AI-built tutoring tools are appearing in more schools, and the OECD’s Digital Education Outlook 2026 says generative AI can act as a tutor, a learning partner or an assistant when used with a clear teaching goal. Newer intelligent tutoring systems can ask questions, offer small hints and change their approach during interaction rather than follow fixed scripts. The OECD also highlights authoring tools for teachers that draft and customise lessons, create questions and practice simulations; teachers can review, edit and approve AI output so they retain control of learning direction.
Adaptive learning and student fit
Adaptive learning is set to grow as AI systems alter content and support based on student performance, helping materials better match individual needs. The stated aim is to move away from one-size-fits-all lessons and help teachers identify learning gaps to provide appropriate support.
AI literacy becomes a core skill
AI literacy is becoming essential for students, teachers and education systems. The OECD frames AI literacy as the ability to understand AI tools, judge their outputs and use them responsibly. UNESCO’s guide for student learning lists 12 competencies across four themes—people-first outlook, AI ethics, hands-on AI methods and uses, and how AI systems are built—and organises learning into three stages: Understand, Apply and Create.
Teachers will need AI skills too
UNESCO’s AI Competence Framework for Teachers outlines 15 competences in five categories: human-centred mindset, AI ethics, foundations and applications of AI, AI pedagogy and professional development through AI, with progression stages labelled Acquire, Deepen and Create. The OECD says educational generative AI can support human work while preserving teachers’ agency, making collaboration between teachers and AI a central issue.
Skills-based and career-focused learning
Education technology is expected to align closely with workforce changes. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that by 2030, 170 million jobs will be added and 92 million will be cut, a net gain of 78 million jobs, and that up to 40% of the skills used in many roles will shift over time. The report notes 63% of employers cite the skills gap as a hurdle and highlights demand for tech skills such as AI, big data and cybersecurity alongside people-focused skills like creative thinking, resilience and agility.
Privacy, safety and responsible AI
As AI use spreads in schools, concerns about privacy, safety, bias, transparency and academic integrity have grown. The OECD reports that 72% of lower secondary teachers worry AI could harm academic integrity by enabling students to claim work that is not theirs. In 2024, 37% of lower secondary teachers used AI as part of their work and 57% said it helps them improve lesson plans. UNESCO guidance also calls for safe, careful AI use.
Immersive learning and new digital experiences
Improved tools may bring more immersive technologies and simulations into classrooms to complement, not replace, in-person learning. At the same time, the rise of AI tutors and agentic AI raises questions about how AI-generated information is created, verified and evaluated; UNESCO plans to address these topics at Digital Learning Week 2026.
The road ahead
In 2027, the role of AI in education will depend on how schools and districts choose to implement it. Key points for the next phase include ensuring AI applications have clear teaching aims, providing substantial staff training rather than quick rollouts, teaching learners how to work with AI tools, and maintaining safeguards for privacy, safety and fairness in academic work so teachers keep decision-making control.
