AI in classrooms: Why teachers say humans still matter

At the India Today Education Conclave in Delhi, a sharp question took centre stage: is artificial intelligence a teaching aid, a co-teacher, or a disruptor?

The panel on AI in the Classroom: Promise, Peril and Possibilities made one thing clear — AI may change classrooms, but it makes teachers and parents more important, not less.

Moderated by Suyesha Savant, the session featured Sharmila Bakshi, Principal of Vasant Valley School, Delhi; Surabhi Bhargav, Principal of Cambridge School, Noida; and Ashish Arora, Senior Vice President and Business Head, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, South Asia.

Bakshi said AI can act as an aid, a co-teacher and a disruptor, but warned it must never undermine educators. Bhargav stressed that overreliance weakens thinking and that “AI cannot replace the teacher.”

Arora widened the lens, urging parents to unlearn old habits and guide children in using AI responsibly.

The consensus: AI can support learning, but human judgement must stay in control.