For years, technology has entered classrooms across Latin America and the Caribbean with promises of an educational revolution. Many well-intentioned efforts have produced mixed results. However, evidence accumulated over recent decades has taught us that what truly makes a difference is not the technology itself, but how it is used.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) arrives with even greater potential—but also with new questions. Are we ready to integrate AI with purpose, equity, and vision? Can we do so in light of what we’ve already learned?
Like past technologies, AI is not a silver bullet that will automatically solve the structural problems of our education systems. Its impact will depend on how it is integrated into pedagogical practices, how well it adapts to local contexts, and how equitably access to it is distributed. True transformation will not come from technical innovation alone, but from conscious decisions about how we use it.
A new evidence-based guide on AI and education
Our new publication on artificial intelligence in education invites readers to look at AI through a critical and realistic lens. Drawing from decades of technology implementation in the region, we explore how AI could help address three key challenges:
- Maximizing learning in the classroom: Technology enables students to learn at their own pace—even in classrooms with wide ranges of performance levels. It can also enhance classroom instruction with high-quality multimedia content and structured pedagogical programs.
- Expanding access and supporting complete learning pathways: Digital transformation broadens remote access to educational resources for teachers, students, administrators, and families. It also encourages parental involvement and student engagement, helping to reduce dropout rates and promote positive behaviors through scalable, cost-effective initiatives.
- Improving efficiency in educational service delivery: Digital tools enhance the quality of learning outcome data and reduce the cost of educational programs. They also support monitoring of attendance and effective use of resources.
Far from offering automatic solutions, the true value of AI in education will depend on how it is implemented, for what purposes, and under what conditions. It’s essential to look beyond the technological novelty and focus on strategic, pedagogical, and equitable integration.
Five dimensions and a compass to navigate new challenges
To successfully navigate digital transformation and make technology and AI true allies in education, we need a compass—a framework to guide us. One that helps us understand where we are, what comes next, and how to measure progress.
That’s why we propose a digital transformation framework for education built around five key dimensions:
- Adequate devices for all
- Meaningful connectivity—beyond just being online
- Digital platforms and content aligned with learning goals
- Teachers with digital competencies to integrate technology into the classroom
- Governance that provides long-term direction and sustainability
For each of these five dimensions, we outline a three-stage pathway: [1] access, [2] use, and [3] integration. These stages help identify where each education system stands and the steps needed to advance in its digital transformation journey.
How can we drive digital transformation in education systems?
View the full infographic by downloading the publication here.
We’ve come a long way, and the lessons are clear: education today—and in the future—is not built solely with algorithms. It is designed with intention, strengthened by evidence, and transformed by everyone’s commitment.
We invite you to explore the IDB’s report and join this crucial conversation—because the path to better education is one we must build together.
Read the full report: AI and Education: Building the Future Through Digital Transformation
If you’d like to read more blog posts we’ve published on AI, click here. Stay tuned for more in our EducAItion In Focus series, follow us on social media, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date. Share your questions, comments, and ideas with us about this constantly evolving reality.