VISION

The future of education is being shaped by the ingenuity and resilience emerging from under-resourced environments—particularly in the Global South. This conference seeks to champion the innovation and agility driving educational transformation in these regions, recognizing that solutions born from necessity often hold the greatest potential for global impact.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping every aspect of society, and education is no exception. AI holds the promise of revolutionizing how we teach and learn—enabling personalized learning, improving access to educational resources, supporting teachers through intelligent tools, and opening up new pathways for lifelong learning. However, without thoughtful integration, AI also threatens to deepen existing inequities. Many low-resourced communities risk being left behind due to limited infrastructure, inadequate policy frameworks, and a lack of localized AI solutions. This growing divide could amplify disparities in educational quality, access, and outcomes.

Our vision is to confront this dual reality. We aim to explore how AI can be intentionally designed and deployed to support equitable education, ensuring that it uplifts rather than marginalizes. We believe that the most effective, scalable, and sustainable AI-driven educational solutions will emerge from the very communities facing the greatest challenges. Innovations developed in resource-constrained environments are often more adaptable, cost-effective, and resilient—and they have the potential to shape the global future of education.

As a team of fellows, faculty, and Master’s students from around the world, we are united by a shared belief: that humanity’s most complex challenges demand collective action—and that this begins with ensuring every child, everywhere, has access to a quality education. One that not only equips them to navigate their own lives but also empowers them to contribute to solutions for our shared global future.

By hosting this conversation through the Harvard Graduate School of Education, we aim to engage the Harvard community and global partners in a dialogue that sparks meaningful questions—questions about how AI can be developed and applied in ways that are ethical, inclusive, and responsive to local contexts. We believe that asking these hard questions will guide us toward building a more just, innovative, and hopeful future for all.