Teaching Together: Human-AI Collaboration for Inclusive Online Education

In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in education, we face a critical question: will technological innovation widen existing inequalities, or can it help bridge them? This presentation explores how AI powered virtual humans can be used not to replace teachers, but to collaborate with them in creating more inclusive, personalized, and flexible online learning environments. Drawing from ongoing PhD research and 18+ years of practical experience with d-teach online school (a UNESCO-recognised Belgian online school), I will share findings from a mixed-methods study involving over 60 teachers and 21 in-depth interviews. The findings reveal a complex mix of opportunities and concerns: the potential for differentiated instruction, worries about authenticity and ethics, and an urgent need for professional development in AI literacy. Concrete examples from the AI Awards for Education initiative illustrate how teachers and schools across Europe are beginning to experiment with AI. However, these efforts are often fragmented and lack structural policy support. Our work through the Friends of d-teach Fund at the King Baudouin Foundation shows how philanthropy and community networks can help fill these gaps and promote equity in digital education. Our work aligns with the European Commission’s Digital Education Action Plan (2021–2027) and the Digital Education Hub, particularly the AI Squad. We advocate for stronger policy support to ensure that responsible AI adoption in education is driven by inclusion, teacher agency, and pedagogical value, rather than technological hype. Through the lens of ICONS (International Community of Online Schools)—founded by d-teach as part of the EU-supported Digital Education Hub Accelerator—we highlight the importance of connecting grassroots practice, interdisciplinary research, and policy dialogue. Our collaboration with global partners such as ITCILO (United Nations) reinforces the potential of AI to support mobile learners and diaspora education in both the Global North and South.