In Augst 2025, Prof. Birte Platow gave an interview for KLASSE magazine. In the article “3 Fragen an Birte Platow”, our leading principal investigator of the research area Responsible AI and board member talks about using Artificial Intelligence in schools. The following blog post is an English translation of the original article that has been published in German. Find issue 02/2025 of KLASSE magazine from August 2025 here. It is available for download (German). KLASSE is a magazine for schools in Saxony, published by the Saxon State Ministry of Culture. It presents current education news, features stories and personalities from schools in Saxony, and provides inspiration for everyday school life and teaching. Teachers are the main target group. The full interview with Prof. Birte Platow is available on the website of the Saxon State Ministry of Culture. Read it here (German).

Klasse: How will Artificial Intelligence change learning?

Prof. Birte Platow: AI is particularly strong in the cognitive dimension of education – because it can operationalize knowledge and impart it on this basis. It can do so in an individualized and differentiated manner. And it can support students in developing self-control. Simply through its ubiquitous presence – and not least because, unlike human teachers, it costs nothing – AI is currently reinforcing this understanding of learning. However, individualized and differentiated learning is often portrayed as purely positive. Conversely, this means that collaborative learning in groups is taking a back seat. That would be exactly what our society needs more of right now.

Klasse: What would you like to see for schools in Saxony?

Prof. Birte Platow: I would say: Yes, please – bring in AI! But then please do it with a lot of courage! Restructure the schools. Open up the boundaries between subjects and time schedules. Rethink the teaching profession. The reality of the profession is that you impart knowledge. Everything else that comes up – mediating disputes, dealing with emotional distress, providing support – is simply expected. And it is not recognized. Yet this would be a great opportunity to say: We are finally giving this part the space it deserves.

Klasse: Why should teachers engage with AI?

Prof. Birte Platow: The most important task to which each and every one of us contributes is to guide young people to become mature individuals capable of acting and making judgments. Young people who should be able to do just that in their everyday lives – make judgments, take action, and assume responsibility. And the world they already live in – and will live in even more as adults – is permeated by AI. There is no profession, no way of life that remains untouched by it. It would simply be burying our heads in the sand if we were to ignore that.