Smarter Teaching, Smarter Learning? The Promise and Limits of AI in K–12 Education

AI is no longer a future question for K–12 education, it is already a reality. Even where education systems have not made deliberate choices to adopt it, students and teachers are already using AI in everyday learning and teaching, often faster than policy, regulation, and institutional frameworks can keep pace. Its promises? More personalized learning, better support for teachers, and new ways to help students learn across classrooms, tutoring settings, and independent learning. But education is not only about efficiency or access to content. It is also about critical thinking, trust, inclusion, social development, and human connection, areas where the role of AI remains far more complex. This session will explore whether AI can genuinely add value in K–12 education, where its limitations are harder to ignore, and what responsible integration should look like across different learning environments.