AI Observatory: Waypoints & Signals – Issue 12
Signals of the week: Enabling PPPs, learner repercussions, and “digital belonging”
Each week, we spotlight signals of change in AI and education – and consider what they might mean for the future of learning in low- and middle-income countries. Using the Three Horizons framework, we track what’s beginning to upgrade existing systems, what may soon disrupt the status quo, and what could transform learning in the age of AI.
Upgrade: Incremental change within the system
Vietnam’s Decree 180 sets stage for PPP innovation
Vietnam’s new Decree 180 sets out clear rules for public-private partnerships in tech. For EdTech firms like AI Hay, it signals government openness to sharing risk and resources. “If private enterprises know how to connect with institutes and schools,” said the company’s COO, “this decree can drive… a stronger innovation ecosystem.” (Sources: Vietnam Investment Review, 18 July 2025)
Why this matters now… legal clarity could open up new innovation pathways in AI and education – but much depends on how partnerships are designed, governed, and aligned with public interest.
Disrupt: Innovations challenge the status quo
AI is reshaping how students learn — and who they become
A new academic review, Psychological and Developmental Repercussions of Pervasive AI Usage in Schools, explores the dual-edged nature of AI in education: “It simultaneously empowers and disrupts, nurtures and alienates, and enhances and undermines.” Using interdisciplinary evidence, the authors examine how AI is reshaping student identity, emotional regulation, motivation, autonomy, and relationships. (Source: Garcia et al., 2025, Psychological and Developmental Repercussions of Pervasive AI Usage in Schools)
Watch for… calls for ethical, inclusive, human-centred design – as awareness grows that AI is reshaping not just learning processes, but learners themselves.
Transform: New visions of the future
From digital inclusion to “digital belonging” in Nigeria
PhD researcher Aishatu Mohammed Lawan explores why digital inclusion efforts often fall short. Drawing on her research with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Nigeria, she argues that “bridging the AI divide is not just about giving people technology or training — it’s about ensuring they see themselves reflected in the future we’re building.” Lawan’s findings offer foresight into the “culture of readiness” that may shape teacher adoption too. (Source: ICT4D Blog, 16 July 2025)What if… AI readiness meant more than access and training – and considered whether communities feel they belong in the future being built?
We’d love to hear from you! What’s been shaping your thinking on AI? Drop your thoughts (and reading recommendations) in the comments. Explore more from EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory.
EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory is made possible with the support of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
