A new dawn for Welsh education? AI could be the key to unlocking every child's potential

In a recent article, Geraint Davies and Tim Burton, former lecturers at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing education within Welsh universities. Here, they delve into how AI can tackle the pressing challenges faced by Welsh schools, offering innovative solutions to improve the learning experience for students across the nation

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WALK into any Welsh classroom today, and you'll see extraordinary things happening: passionate teachers working tirelessly to meet the needs of their students, pupils learning in two languages, and a fierce commitment to ensuring every child gets the best start in life.

But you'll also see deep and persistent challenges. Child poverty continues to have a powerful hold on educational outcomes. Teacher workloads have reached unsustainable levels, with many staff working long hours just to keep up. Schools are being asked to do more with less, and the task of nurturing bilingualism in an increasingly digital-first world only adds to the pressure.

Against this backdrop, the question becomes urgent: how can we use technology - not as a crutch, but as a catalyst for transformation?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping every corner of society and education is no exception. From supporting individualised learning to providing real-time feedback and improving engagement, AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we educate.

Globally, AI is already being used to personalise learning, support struggling students, and even generate entirely new ways of interacting with knowledge. For Wales, the question is not whether to embrace this revolution, but how we can do so in a way that strengthens the values we hold dear: equity, inclusion, community, and, of course, the Welsh language.

International evidence shows just how transformative AI can be. In the United States, intelligent tutoring systems like Carnegie Learning's MATHia (www.carnegielearning.com) are providing one-on-one, real-time support to students in disadvantaged areas, dramatically improving maths attainment.