It was only a few years ago that many people still underestimated the capabilities of artificial intelligence. Yet the rapid development of the technology has sharply reduced the number of those who remain sceptical about its potential. Some forecasts have suggested that AI could outperform humans across a broad range of tasks shortly after 2027. While recent MIT research considers that timeline too aggressive, its projections still suggest that AI could achieve an 80% success rate on most tasks by 2029.
Artificial intelligence is already being actively applied across a range of sectors, from medicine to agriculture. AI can perform calculations, analyse data and generate recommendations.
In developed economies, the debate around AI often centres on automation and its potential impact on employment. For developing countries, however, the technology may serve a different purpose – helping to compensate for shortages of human capital and infrastructure.
Education is one of the areas where this potential could be particularly significant, as AI-based tools can expand access to learning and potentially transform the way education is delivered.
Ornella Mkrtchyan, founder and CEO of the Centre for Youth Initiatives, believes that AI will become a key driver of expanded educational access and improved learning efficiency. In her view, this could help strengthen the competitiveness of developing countries and accelerate their integration into the global economy. She points to practical AI-based solutions that could help address some of the structural barriers limiting access to education.
The Great Equaliser
Ornella Mkrtchyan notes that education is one of the most important drivers of development for any region. In her view, it is impossible to build a competitive economy without access to quality education. At the same time, she points out, access to education remains one of the most significant challenges facing a number of countries.
“According to UNESCO, more than 270 million children were out of school in 2024. That is one in six school-age children worldwide. In the world’s lowest-income countries, the figure reaches 36%,” says Ornella Mkrtchyan.
She notes that the problem is complex. It includes shortages of teachers, suitable facilities for lessons and educational materials. Another factor is the distance between some communities and the schools that serve them.
Ornella Mkrtchyan believes the situation could be significantly improved in the near future by rethinking traditional approaches to education. One possible solution is the introduction of AI-based educational programmes, which could help narrow gaps in access to learning between regions.
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Ornella Mkrtchyan on the MetaTeacher Project
Headed by Ornella Mkrtchyan, the Centre for Youth Initiatives in Uzbekistan is one of Central Asia’s leading educational hubs for young people. One of its key initiatives is MetaTeacher, an educational programme based on artificial intelligence and the principles of distance learning. Designed to expand access to education, the programme uses AI to make learning more interactive, flexible and responsive to individual students.
According to Mkrtchyan, the idea emerged in response to shortages of qualified teachers and limited access to educational resources. The use of artificial intelligence has made it possible to change the way information is delivered: learning takes place through dialogue rather than one-way instruction. “We wanted to increase student engagement so that learners could ask follow-up questions and receive immediate answers. Modern LLMs were particularly well suited to this approach. Used alongside traditional face-to-face classes, they can substantially enrich youth education.”
MetaTeacher can also help address shortages of educational materials. With all materials available online, students can learn from virtually anywhere and at any time, Mkrtchyan notes.
Another feature of MetaTeacher is its adaptability. “In a traditional classroom, a teacher cannot tailor the learning process to every individual student. This is simply not possible given the differences between children. Artificial intelligence, however, can adapt to a student’s level by analysing how they absorb and process the material. In essence, it provides personalised learning,” she explains.
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In addition, MetaTeacher and similar projects provide an opportunity to explore the practical capabilities of AI while preparing people to work with the technology as it continues to evolve. “AI has enormous potential in education. As the technology develops, the ways in which we can use it will continue to expand. At the same time, we already have an opportunity to prepare thousands, and potentially tens of thousands, of people to work alongside AI,” notes the head of the Centre for Youth Initiatives.
A New Model of Education
A quality school education lays the foundation for further learning and professional development. Knowledge, analytical skills and creative thinking begin to take shape in the early years of education. The role of the education system is to develop these abilities as fully as possible while fostering an interest in learning and a commitment to continuous growth.
AI has the potential to become a universal educational equalizer. It isn't meant to replace teachers, but rather to bridge the gap in underserved areas by delivering high-quality, personalised learning where traditional systems lack sufficient staff.”
“Ten years ago, few people would have imagined just how commonplace online classes would become, allowing students to learn without being physically present in a classroom. Perhaps 10 years from now, an AI teacher will be an entirely ordinary part of the educational process. Expanding access to education and delivering a more personalised approach can take the entire system to a new level. This offers a critical breakthrough for developing nations currently grappling with acute qualified teacher shortages,” concludes Ornella Mkrtchyan.
Ornella Mkrtchyan – founder and CEO of the Centre for Youth Initiatives in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She advocates for innovation and supports equal access to opportunities in technology.
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