History Lessons for Better Public Policy: How to Create an AI-Ready Education System

In 1823, a radical thinker and academic named George Birkbeck founded the London Mechanics Institute (now Birbeck University). It was part of the vanguard dedicated to providing working class men and women with the technical and engineering skills needed to succeed in the new industrial age. Birkbeck’s rallying cry was the motto, “knowledge is power”, and his vision for this new form of vocational education helped drive the growth of similar mechanics institutes throughout the United Kingdom, and in Australia and Canada.

Two hundred years later, a new artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is becoming as transformative and disruptive for today’s workforce as anything experienced in the early days of steam powered industrialization. So much so that perhaps even Birkbeck would be perplexed by how best to prepare students for this completely new world of work. Today, educators and governments must confront the question of what skills students need to succeed in this new machine-dominated workplace and how they can effectively teach them when so many students already rely on AI to accomplish their studies.

Understanding the algorithm

No one doubts the comprehensive influence that AI is going to have on the way we work — notably the use of generative AI (GenAI) which grew from just 49% in 2023 to 75% a year later according to the EY 2024 Work Reimagined Survey. We’ve long known that automation, blockchain and machine learning could reduce administrative burdens, significantly cut down manual paperwork, speed up repetitive processes and supercharge analytics. With the advent of GenAI, it’s now clear that entire job descriptions and career paths — whether it be call center worker, para-legal, copywriter, software coder, or even general practice doctor — will be redefined or even fully replaced by algorithms.

Educators and government administrators considering this fast-changing career landscape are having to reassess the types of skills they should be teaching. For example, is there any point in students learning to code when GenAI can accomplish these tasks in seconds? And do budding lawyers need to memorize case law anymore or should they focus on developing higher order skills such as the interpretation of how it is applied and the moral and ethical judgments involved?

Even as educators and exam boards devise new approaches to teaching, they are having to reassess how to measure academic success when AI is becoming commonplace in the classroom. One eminent technology professor and author, Clay Shirky, recently suggested universities abandon written coursework and instead revert to the pre-printing press academic approach of oral examination.

Some governments are starting to meet the challenge through forward-thinking policies. Australia’s Department of Education has created a Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools based on six principles and 25 guiding statements around teaching, human wellbeing, transparency, fairness, accountability and privacy. Education ministers also established a National AI Schools Taskforce to promote the advancement of AI in education, including a draft framework for using AI in schools.

South Korea, meanwhile, is educating students about AI at an early age by using AI in the classroom to adapt homework and assignments based on students’ educational levels and learning behaviors. In time, each child in South Korea will have a personalized AI tutor.

A new approach to machine learning

As AI reshapes the world of work and learning, governments are tasked with creating an education system that truly prepares learners for an AI-driven future. This requires a new focus on developing adaptable curricula that emphasize uniquely human skills such as critical thinking, creativity, ethics and emotional intelligence — areas where AI cannot replace human judgment. Governments should rethink assessment models by moving away from rote learning toward evaluating real-world problem-solving, collaboration and adaptability.

Equally important is investing in teacher training to build AI literacy among educators, enabling them to effectively integrate AI tools in the classroom and guide students in using these technologies responsibly. Governments can also ensure all learners have equitable access to AI-driven educational resources, bridging digital divides and enabling opportunities for every student regardless of background.

To support these efforts, clear governance frameworks that embed transparency, privacy and fairness into AI’s role in education are essential. Collaboration between government bodies, industry and academia, including dedicated AI education task forces, will help align education policies with evolving workforce needs, champion innovation, oversee policy implementation, and scale successful programs nationally.

The history lesson for educating society to thrive with AI

Just as George Birkbeck’s vision of making technical education accessible transformed societies in the industrial age, today’s governments bear the crucial responsibility of shaping education for the AI age. By taking decisive actions across policy, pedagogy, equity and governance, governments can unlock the full potential of AI to revolutionize education — not just for efficiency but to cultivate capable, ethical and resilient citizens ready for tomorrow’s challenges. Knowledge may equal power, but how it is applied will continue to set humans apart from machines.

The views reflected in this article are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the global EY organization or its member firms.