The “one chatbot per child” model for AI in the classroom contradicts the research: learning is a social process

In the Star Trek universe, the viewer is occasionally given a glimpse into the interior of schools on the planet Vulcan. Small children stand alone in groups, surrounded by 360-degree digital screens. Adults wander between groups but do not speak to students. Instead, each child only interacts with a sophisticated artificial intelligence that peppers them with questions about everything from math to philosophy.

This is not the reality in today’s classrooms on Earth. However, for many technology leaders developing modern AI, the vision of AI-driven personalized learning is extremely attractive. Outspoken venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, for example, imagines that “the AI ​​tutor will accompany every child at every step of their development.”

Years ago I studied computer science and completed an internship in Silicon Valley. Later, as a public school teacher, I was often the first to bring technology into my classroom. I was impressed by the prospect of a digital future in education.

Now as…