Pitch to the Minister of the Future  

‘Minister, today we are witnessing a profound shift—one that will redefine education for generations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant possibility; it’s becoming an active participant in how we teach, how we learn, and how we think. What once felt like science fiction is now an undeniable reality, rapidly transforming our world. 

Consider this: Netflix took 3.5 years to reach 1 million users. ChatGPT took just 5 days. In two months, it reached 100 million, and today, it’s surging towards 200 million. More than 75% of UK secondary school students have already used generative AI to support their education. Half of UK university students and teachers are integrating these tools into their daily work. This is not just another tech fad—it’s a transformational shift. It’s going to reshape how we live, how we work, and most critically, how we educate the next generation. The question isn’t whether AI should be integrated into education, but rather how we can best harness its potential to create a flexible, inclusive and accessible education system that prepares our society for the challenges and opportunities ahead. 

Why Education Will Be Most Impacted by AI 

Education, Minister, is the foundation upon which every aspect of our society is built, and AI is set to impact education more profoundly than any other sector. Let me explain why. 

In the next 5 to 10 years, AI will change how we approach learning. AI tools will help educators manage cognitive load by automating administrative tasks and providing real-time feedback, freeing them to focus on developing critical human skills like creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. For students, AI will act as a cognitive partner—not just offering information but helping them make sense of it—guiding them to ask better questions, analyse complex problems, and collaborate with peers across the globe. 

AI should help us move beyond rote memorization and prevent a regression to older, less effective models of education.   As the world becomes more complex, we need to ensure education keeps up by equipping students with the  skills necessary to navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving world. AI will support this shift from ‘content delivery’ to ‘co-intelligence,’ where humans and machines work together to foster deeper, more meaningful learning.  AI used in this way will ensure it cultivates the very skills that make us human—dialogue-based learning, critical thinking, and collective problem-solving.  

Navigating the Next 30 Years with AI in Education 

Looking further ahead—30 years from now—AI will be even more deeply embedded in education, supporting learning both individually and collectively. AI will not replace teachers, but it will become a dialogic partner, co-creating knowledge alongside them. Imagine classrooms where AI helps students tackle global challenges, enabling them to develop collective intelligence through rich dialogue that draws on diverse perspectives and areas of expertise. 

Education will no longer be confined to traditional subject boundaries. The future of learning will emphasize cross-disciplinary skills—how well students can think, collaborate, and lead. Creative problem-solving, teamwork, and lateral thinking will be the foundation of education, and we must rethink our assessment models to keep pace with this change. To support this shift, we must transform how we train our teachers. Future teacher training will need fresh approaches to curricula that prioritize lateral thinking and equip educators with the tools, skills, and support to foster this type of learning environment. 

Furthermore, future teacher training needs to focus on collaboration. Teachers themselves must be given more opportunities to work together, share knowledge, and develop strategies for cross-disciplinary instruction. New AI models can facilitate these transactions, helping to prevent teachers from working in isolation, building education into a collaborative endeavour not only for students but also for the educators who guide them. 

This transformation will be deeply connected to the future of work. The rapid adoption of AI is reshaping the workplace as we speak—changing existing jobs and creating entirely new ones. We are moving into a world where AI will demand new kinds of work qualifications, and our education system must evolve to meet this need. If we fail to equip students with the skills required for the future of work, we risk falling behind in a global economy that is increasingly AI-driven. 

Why This Needs to Be a National Mission 

Minister, with AI set to revolutionise education, this is where the Mission must focus. The stakes are too high to be reactive. Our education system needs to be at the forefront of this transformation to ensure that we are not only preparing future generations for a world where AI is ubiquitous, but also harnessing its power to create a more equitable, inclusive society. 

There are two key priorities over the next 5 to 10 years: 

1. Infrastructure and Access: We need to ensure that every student, regardless of background or geography, has access to AI-powered learning tools. AI has the potential to create unprecedented opportunities for learners, but it could also deepen digital inequalities if access is uneven. We must focus on reducing these digital divides by making AI literacy a core part of the curriculum. Every student must be equipped to harness the power of AI, and every teacher must have the confidence to use AI in the classroom. This should also involve public/private partnerships, where the government collaborates with the private sector to develop and evaluate new digital education products that benefit all learners. 

1. Teacher Training and Support: Teachers are the heart of education. For AI to become a partner in learning, we need to invest heavily in teacher training. Professional development programs focused on AI literacy will be essential to ensure educators can guide students in using AI ethically, creatively, and critically. These programs must also help teachers to work across disciplines and foster collaboration both in the classroom and in their own professional development. 

Finally, looking ahead to the next 30 years, this Mission must also focus on lifelong learning. AI will change the nature of work, and education cannot stop at graduation. We need a flexible, responsive education system where AI helps people reskill and upskill throughout their lives. Policy must support an education framework that is continuous, collaborative, and adaptable to the evolving demands of society and the workplace. 

Addressing Climate and Sustainability 

As we embrace AI in education, we must also consider its environmental impact. AI requires vast computational resources, and the energy demands of data centres are only set to grow. If we are to use AI responsibly, we need to invest in the infrastructure to support renewable energy solutions that power our AI systems sustainably. This includes prioritizing domestic data centres in the UK, reducing reliance on external infrastructure, and ensuring that our AI-driven educational systems contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. 

Addressing Risks and Opportunities 

Of course, the disruptive potential of AI must be managed carefully. Change at this scale will undoubtedly cause anxiety—teachers may worry about their roles, and students may fear being left behind. But the anxiety of disruption does not mean we are headed in the wrong direction. It means we are embracing the future. With smart, forward-thinking policies, we can ensure this transformation benefits everyone. 

A national Mission focused on AI in education will allow the UK to lead the way in crafting policies that manage both the risks and opportunities. With AI, we have the chance to create an education system that is more equitable, dynamic, and effective at preparing the next generation for the world ahead. But if we fail to act, we risk falling behind. 

Closing with a Call to Action 

Minister, the future of education is intertwined with the future of AI. The steps we take today—investing in AI literacy, rethinking our assessment models, and ensuring equitable access to AI-powered tools—will shape the next 30 years of learning. We need to address the digital divide, empower teachers, and ensure our infrastructure is sustainable. Public/private collaboration will be key to developing and evaluating the tools needed to lead this transformation. 

Minister, let’s work together to build an education system that not only prepares students for the challenges of tomorrow but empowers them to shape the future themselves. 

Thank you.