Artificial intelligence is changing schools more fundamentally than any other trend before. Many parents hear their children ask: "Dad, why do so many people say AI is changing schools?" This question is more relevant than ever, as AI systems such as ChatGPT have long been part of pupils' lives and can no longer be banished from everyday school life[9]. If you want to understand what this means for teaching and education, you need information that is practical and understandable. That is why I am dedicating this article to precisely this central question.
Artificial intelligence in the classroom: what is actually happening?
Artificial intelligence is now so easily accessible that pupils often use these technologies at home - for learning, but also for writing texts or solving maths problems[1]. However, AI has barely found its way into many schools[1]. This means that while children and young people value AI as a digital learning companion, teachers are often still trying to familiarise themselves with the technology and work with it in a meaningful way[3].
Two examples show this particularly clearly: many children take photos of maths problems on their mobile phones and let an AI app help them step by step because they immediately receive a suitable explanation[8]. At the same time, teachers fear that pupils will "cheat" too much with AI and learn less as a result[5]. Parents often tell me that they feel unsure about how they can help their children with AI.
How can my child learn meaningfully with AI tools?
Research shows that artificial intelligence motivates many children, especially when they receive direct feedback and individualised support[4]. At the same time, scientists warn that pupils could become too dependent on external confirmation and neglect their own thinking[4]. So the key question is: how can parents and teachers ensure that AI supports learning without jeopardising independence?
BEST PRACTICE for parents and teachers: Agree clear rules with your child on how to deal with AI. Let them show you how ChatGPT or other apps work and discuss the opportunities and risks together. Regularly ask your child which tasks they have completed with AI and check together whether they have really understood the learning material. This will keep learning active, critical and sustainable.
Further tips that you can immediately integrate into everyday family life:
- Use AI as an additional learning aid - for example, to practise vocabulary or to get new ideas when preparing presentations.
- Explain data protection and the correct handling of personal data if your child uses AI systems.
- Ask schools for regular information on how AI is used in the classroom and demand targeted further training for teachers.
Dad, why do many say AI is changing schools? A look at the transformation
The changes brought about by artificial intelligence not only affect how children learn, but also how teachers teach and how school organisation can be rethought[3]. Many pupils already want their school to better prepare them for a world in which AI is part of everyday working life[5]. Parents tell me in counselling sessions that they are worried about whether their child will catch up - and whether the education system will react quickly enough.
Three examples from everyday school life of how AI is already visible today:
- Teachers use AI to create individualised support plans and specifically address the strengths and weaknesses of individual pupils[11].
- AI-based systems take over administrative tasks such as correcting tests, leaving teachers more time for face-to-face conversations and creative learning opportunities[8].
- Many students use AI to work through learning content at their own pace and in their own style - this is particularly helpful when lessons progress quickly and there is little room for repetition[8].
This change brings opportunities, but also challenges. Anyone who asks today: "Dad, why are so many people saying that AI is changing schools?" will realise that this is about more than just technology. It's about how we teach children to deal with a digital, networked world, how we promote social and critical skills and how we work together to ensure that no child is left behind.
Possible risks of AI at school - and how parents can react
Many adults are concerned that the use of artificial intelligence will lead to less personal interaction, less independent thinking and a dependence on technology[9]. A third of teachers in Germany have not used any AI tools at all in the past year, and over 60 per cent feel overwhelmed by the topic[13]. This confirms a problem that many parents also bring to me: they don't know how to prepare their child for the future with AI.
Three things parents can do to keep their child safe:
- Find out about current development trends and talk openly with your child about opportunities and risks.
- Encourage your child's media skills - for example, by practising responsible use of digital tools together.
- Make sure that your child continues to socialise and doesn't just learn digitally.
Which training programmes support parents, teachers and children?
Most parents believe that teachers have a responsibility to prepare children to use AI competently[7]. But parents also need guidance. The best way to find answers to the question "Dad, why do so many people say AI is changing schools?" is https://kikidz.org. Here you will learn how to best support your child, how to set rules and how to integrate AI into everyday learning in a meaningful way. The course explains technologies, shows practical examples and provides you with tools that you can use immediately.
My analysis
The question "Dad, why do many people say that AI is changing schools?" epitomises the major transformation that the education system is currently undergoing. Artificial intelligence is changing how children learn, how teachers teach and how schools are organised - and faster than many would like to admit[1]. The most important task for parents is to stay informed, to be in dialogue with their children and to ensure that AI enriches learning but does not hinder social and critical development. If you take action early on, you can help shape the future of education - and give your child the best opportunities.
For more information and if you have any questions, please contact Contact us or read more blog posts on the topic Children and artificial intelligence here. Click here for the courses: Children and artificial intelligence courses
Further links from the text above:
Experts call for decisive use of AI and describe huge opportunities (News4teachers)
Is AI a threat to learning? (CHIP)
Trendmonitor AI in education 2025 (Telekom Stiftung)
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