The human teacher becomes more of a mentor to develop values and skillsets, whereas the AI companion makes learning personalized. Teachers can still play a strong role as mentors, helping improve the child’s curiosity and creativity, communication skills, teamwork, and compassion. Do human teachers fit into this speculative future? To use that same tech for good would mean targeting content to students so they are naturally incentivized to learn.Īpplying AI at the individual level can help students learn at a pace that suits their individual preferences and passion. Today, Facebook and TikTok are so good at targeting us with content to keep us clicking. Superheroes and animals can also make education more fun and targeted. Or recast problems: math equations could become basketball games. This can help kids learn things in a fun way – like multiplication or division – before going into school. They don’t have to know everything, just how to converse with you in ways you like and that represent their character. They will converse in an increasingly more natural language too. Kai-Fu Lee: Classic childhood companions like Barbie or GI Joe – once inanimate objects – will come to life on mobile phone screens, or through virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) glasses. How would this affect young children, such as those under age 5?

In one story, AI companions form an integral part of the education system. ITU: Your new book is a collection of short stories that speculate on ways AI could shape daily life and experiences in different parts of the world.

Here, Lee shares insights on how much – and how deeply – AI could shape our world in the decades to come. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recently connected with pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) expert Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, CEO of Sinovation Ventures, and co-author of the forthcoming book “AI 2041: Ten visions for our future.”

AI 2041 by Kai-Fu Lee