Across the United States, the landscape of education is shifting faster than anyone could have predicted just a few years ago. From artificial intelligence in classrooms to debates over political and ideological content in school curricula, a fundamental question is emerging: What is education really for—and who should control it?
The Rise of AI in the Classroom
At London Tech Week earlier this summer, an AI-powered humanoid robot named Ameca captured global attention as a symbol of what many see as the future of education. Tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic have already announced an AI-powered “teacher training academy,” which they say will revolutionize how educators are prepared and how students learn.
To some, this signals progress. AI can process vast amounts of information, personalize lessons, and make education more accessible. But critics warn that turning over the role of teacher to machines risks losing something far more important than efficiency.
“Education is about shaping character, not just delivering facts,” says leaders at Southeastern University, a Christian institution advocating for ethical use of AI. “No algorithm can love a student or mentor them toward a life of integrity and purpose.”
Who Decides What Students Learn?
The debate isn’t just technological—it’s philosophical. Handing over teaching responsibilities to machines also hands over power to decide what is taught and how it’s framed.
Already, school systems have faced controversy over embedding gender ideology and political agendas into curricula, often without parental input. Now, with AI trained on vast—and sometimes biased—data sets, parents fear that future generations will be shaped more by corporate algorithms than by trusted human educators.
“Do we really want unelected tech companies, driven by their own ideologies and profit motives, determining how our children learn and think?” asks one education policy advocate.
The Call to Protect Human Teaching
Many educators argue that the solution isn’t to reject technology but to use it wisely. AI can be a valuable tool—helping teachers with administrative tasks, providing additional resources, or making education more accessible to underserved communities. But experts insist that it should never replace the human element.
“Shaping a soul takes more than a circuit board,” says Southeastern University’s leadership. “Classrooms must remain places where students are not only informed but transformed—prepared not just for a career, but for a life of service and calling.”
Christian colleges and universities are calling for a renewed focus on mentorship, moral formation, and truth-seeking, urging schools to keep education relational and deeply human.
A Crossroads for American Education
The coming years will determine whether America leads the AI revolution responsibly—or allows technology to reshape the values at the heart of education.
The choice, critics say, is clear: use technology, but don’t be used by it. Preserve the dignity of every student by keeping teachers—not machines—at the heart of learning. While AI can deliver information, only people can shape the kind of character that changes the world.
