The future of education is being profoundly reshaped by artificial intelligence, with the latest bold prediction coming from the CEO of Duolingo: in an AI-dominated future, traditional schools may remain—but primarily as places for childcare rather than learning. This provocative vision, recently aired on the No Priors podcast and widely reported in international media (businessinsider.com), brings into focus pressing questions for Thai educators, parents, and policymakers about the evolving role of schools and teachers.
At the heart of the Duolingo CEO’s argument is the belief that artificial intelligence can deliver highly effective, individualized instruction at scale, outstripping what a single human teacher can accomplish in a classroom of 30 or more students. “It’s just a lot more scalable to teach with AI than with teachers,” he explains, emphasizing that schools would continue to be necessary—not as centers of instruction, but as supervised, social environments where childcare is paramount. In this scenario, teachers would serve more as facilitators and mentors, while AI platforms handle the bulk of academic teaching.
For Thailand, a nation committed to educational reform and digital advancement, the vision may appear simultaneously alarming and inspiring. Why does this debate matter so much here? The Thai education system, overseen by the Ministry of Education, guarantees 15 years of free basic education and lays heavy social and economic importance on face-to-face learning environments (Wikipedia). However, challenges such as large class sizes (often 1 teacher to 50 students), rural-urban disparities, underfunded schools, and the strain on working families make the promise of personalized, AI-assisted learning particularly appealing (Bangkok Post).
Recent research and expert discussions confirm that AI in education is no longer hypothetical. A report from an April 2025 conference organized by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) in Thailand highlighted how AI is being woven into both formal education and workforce development. National platforms such as Thai MOOC use AI to personalize learning paths and recommend courses, making education more accessible, especially for those outside major cities. Meanwhile, AI-driven tutoring systems, chatbots, and virtual labs are making their way into classrooms from Bangkok to rural Chiang Rai (NSTDA 2025 report).
Advocates for AI-enabled teaching emphasize its benefits. AI-powered systems can track each student’s progress, instantly identify strengths and weaknesses, and provide custom exercises tailored to individual needs—something nearly impossible for teachers juggling dozens of children at once. Educational data shows platforms like Duolingo, Khan Academy, and Thailand’s own AI-powered learning tools can boost student engagement, fill gaps in foundational knowledge, and even predict which students are at risk of falling behind (ResearchGate).
In practical terms for Thai schools, AI-driven systems might handle the “hard” academic content, grading, routine exercises, and foreign language practice. Teachers would then focus on support, motivation, and the social and emotional development that young people require—areas where human empathy and cultural understanding cannot be replicated by algorithms. According to participants in the 2025 NSTDA conference, successful implementation will require collaboration among ministries, universities, and private firms to train both the next generation of teachers and the workforce to thrive alongside AI.
Yet, while the promise is real, Thai experts voice concerns about losing the “human touch.” Social and emotional skills, cultural literacy, and civic values are passed down in face-to-face school settings, both through formal lessons and traditional collective activities such as morning assemblies, ceremonies, and cultural festivals. There are also pressing ethical and practical issues: data privacy, equitable access, algorithmic bias, and the danger of widening the digital divide between affluent city schools and their rural counterparts.
A recent UNESCO discussion on AI in Thai schools underscores these worries. AI can certainly tailor instruction and help close learning gaps, but the technology risks leaving behind those without reliable internet or access to devices, especially in upcountry areas. Teacher training remains a bottleneck: while AI systems can support more efficient classroom management and even reduce workloads, many educators require significant upskilling to use these systems effectively (UNESCO). This echoes findings from PwC Thailand, which notes that, while AI adoption is rising (17.8% of Thai businesses report using AI, up from 15.2% in 2023), a vast majority of organizations are still merely preparing for integration (PwC Thailand).
International research also cautions against over-reliance on technology. While AI-driven solutions have delivered impressive academic gains in individualized settings, countries and communities that have replaced too much human interaction with digital platforms often report declines in creativity, critical thinking, and even motivation. A 2024 global study on personalized learning warned that even the best algorithm cannot replace the mentorship, empathy, and cultural nuance that experienced teachers bring to the classroom (ResearchGate).
On the Thai policy front, AI in education is being integrated with broader national strategies. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) has rolled out a national AI roadmap, placing ethics and equity at the center of AI development, and emphasizing the importance of mixed learning environments where AI supplements, but does not supplant, the role of educators (NSTDA 2025 report). New government-backed initiatives—like the nationwide Credit Bank for lifelong learning, or the rapid expansion of AI-powered online platforms—aim to give learners continuous, personalized education that extends beyond traditional schooling.
For Thai families, especially those in urban centers where dual-income households are common, schools as reliable childcare centers remains non-negotiable. Even if the academic content migrates to AI platforms, the need for supervised, social, and emotionally supportive environments will endure. This is especially relevant in a culture where communal festivals, Buddhist observances, and the Wai Khru (teacher appreciation) ceremony reinforce intergenerational bonds formed within the school community.
Looking to the future, experts across Asia see a hybrid model as most feasible for Thailand: leveraging AI for scalable, personalized academic learning, but maintaining schools as essential centers for childcare, cultural transmission, socialization, and emotional development, particularly at the primary and lower-secondary levels. Over the next decade, as AI becomes an “invisible assistant” rather than a total replacement for teachers, it is likely that Thai classrooms will become “smart schools,” blending the digital and the human in uniquely local ways (LinkedIn analysis).
Thai policymakers are advised to move quickly to close infrastructural and skills gaps and to establish ethical standards that safeguard privacy and ensure inclusive access. The country’s current teacher shortage and large class sizes make it ripe for AI-driven tools, but only with significant investment in digital infrastructure and widespread teacher training.
For Thai parents and students, the most actionable advice is to embrace AI-enabled learning tools where available, but to also remain active partners with teachers and schools. Encouraging children to balance AI-based study with participation in cultural and extracurricular activities will be key to developing well-rounded, resilient citizens for a rapidly changing world.
Actionable recommendations for Thai readers:
- Take advantage of free or low-cost AI-powered learning platforms such as Thai MOOC and Duolingo for self-paced study, additional language practice, or exam preparation (Thai MOOC).
- Encourage schools to invest in AI literacy for both teachers and students, ensuring that everyone understands both the strengths and risks of new technologies.
- Advocate for government support to deliver reliable internet and digital devices, especially in underserved regions.
- Remain vigilant about data privacy and ethical considerations when children use new digital platforms.
- Support hybrid school models that blend the efficiency of AI-driven academics with Thailand’s rich traditions of cultural, emotional, and social education.
In summary, while AI is poised to revolutionize how Thai students learn, the country’s educational and cultural context ensures that, for the foreseeable future, schools will remain vital as both childcare centers and communal learning spaces. The challenge—and the opportunity—lies in finding the right balance between efficient, personalized learning and the human touch that is at the heart of Thai education.