AI Observatory: Waypoints & Signals – Issue 14
Signals of the week: confidence gaps, Study Mode under scrutiny, and shaping shared direction
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
AI confidence gap among teachers
Over 70% of teachers in India are using AI tools, according to a new survey by CENTA. Many rate their expertise highly, but only 57% could identify a basic AI misconception – revealing “a gap between adoption and genuine comfort,” said Ramya Venkataraman, CEO of CENTA. (Source: Media Bulletins, 31 July 2025)
Why this matters now… adoption alone doesn’t signal readiness. Teachers need support that builds understanding, not just access.
Disrupt: Innovations challenge the status quo
Critical gaps in ChatGPT’s new Study Mode
Dr Philippa Hardman shared an early take on OpenAI’s new Study Mode, describing it as “one of the most pedagogically-aware GenAI tools available,” while outlining five critical gaps that limit its ability to support substantive learning and development. (Source: Dr Philippa Hardman, LinkedIn, 31 July 2025)
Watch for… more responses across the education system to concerns that AI is becoming an answering machine for students, and evidence on whether OpenAI’s Study Mode shifts that behaviour in practice.
Transform: New visions of the future
Shaping inclusive policy through dialogue
Indonesia’s new AI guidance – developed through an Indonesia-UK collaboration and shaped by dialogue with over 100 stakeholders – includes 5 recommendations for education policy, from professional development to protecting students from overreliance. (Source: Komdigi, 28th July 2025)
What if… ongoing dialogue became a core part of how education systems navigate AI? What if decision-makers use collaborative conversation to shape a shared direction in the face of fast-moving change?
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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.
