AI in Education: Empowering Creativity, Not Just Efficiency

AI in education is everywhere right now, and much of the marketing is laser-focused on one word: efficiency. Companies promise tools that will revolutionise lesson planning, save teachers time, and streamline workflows. On the surface, it sounds like a dream come true for a profession that is stretched thin. But this narrative misses a fundamental point about teaching: it’s not just about efficiency; it’s about creativity, connection, and craft. The danger of marketing AI solely as a time-saver is that it risks sidelining the very heart of what makes great teaching.

Teachers don’t come to the classroom just to tick boxes or deliver content as efficiently as possible. They come to spark curiosity, to inspire, to create those magical moments where students connect with ideas in ways that stay with them for life. Lesson planning isn’t just a chore; it’s an art form. Teachers carefully craft activities, discussions, and resources that reflect their unique understanding of their students’ needs. To reduce this process to something AI can do faster is to misunderstand its value entirely.

There’s also a scepticism among teachers about the promises of saved time. For many, AI feels like just another tool to learn—another thing added to the already overwhelming list of responsibilities. The irony is that the learning curve for integrating AI into teaching often negates the very time savings it claims to deliver. Without proper support and training, AI can feel less like a helpful assistant and more like another layer of complexity in an already demanding job.

For AI to have a meaningful impact in education, it needs to go beyond the shallow promise of efficiency. It needs to deepen the learning experience for students and support the creative, reflective practice of teachers. That means tools that don’t replace teacher creativity but enhance it. Imagine AI that helps teachers explore new ideas, adapt lessons to individual needs, or find unexpected connections between subjects—tools that respect the expertise and creativity of teachers rather than trying to automate it away.

At its best, AI in education should be about collaboration—a partnership between technology and teachers that elevates what happens in the classroom. It should support better teaching and learning, not just quicker teaching and learning. Teachers are not just deliverers of content; they are architects of meaningful experiences. If AI companies truly want to make a difference in education, they need to shift the focus away from efficiency and towards empowerment. Because teaching is not about doing things faster; it’s about doing them better.