Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, has once again made headlines with his latest endorsement of a book that explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education. Gates recently recommended “Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (And Why That’s a Good Thing),” written by Sal Khan, the founder and CEO of Khan Academy.
In his social media post on platform X, Gates praised Khan’s book for its compelling vision of leveraging AI to expand educational opportunities globally. “If you’re passionate about education, you need to read this book,” Gates wrote. “Sal offers a compelling vision for harnessing AI to expand opportunity for all.”
In “Brave New Words,” Khan delves into the potential for AI-powered systems, such as the ChatGPT-driven Khanmigo, to revolutionize education. These systems can assist teachers and customize lessons to meet the needs of individual students. While Khanmigo is still in an experimental phase and makes occasional errors, it is currently being tested with over 65,000 students.
Gates has long been an advocate for using AI to close the education gap, especially for low-income students in developing countries. He envisions AI functioning like an exceptional high school teacher, providing detailed feedback and encouraging students to improve their work.
Despite the optimism surrounding AI in education, experts caution parents to remain vigilant and use AI tools alongside their children to teach real-time fact-checking skills. Looking ahead, Gates remains optimistic about the future of AI in education, believing that significant advancements over the next decade could raise the overall level of achievement and reduce disparities for lower-income and minority students.
Bill Gates’ endorsement of Sal Khan’s book underscores the potential for AI to revolutionize education, offering unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning and global educational equity as technology continues to advance.