Every state school child in the country could be given tailor-made tuition from Artificial Intelligence robots, Rishi Sunak has suggested, describing it as the “Holy Grail” of education policy.
The Prime Minister told an investor conference at Hampton Court Palace attended by heads of the world’s biggest companies that AI offered the chance for public money to go much further in improving teaching for children.
Sunak said that he was looking for ways to “improve the productivity of what the public sector is doing. Technology gives us the opportunity to transform outcomes”.
Speaking at the Global Investment Summit in London, he added: “If you look at what AI is already doing – the promise of every child having a personal tutor which was always the Holy Grail of education policy, we know that it can be transformative of people’s attainment, particularly disadvantaged kids.
WATCH: Rishi Sunak addresses the Global Investment Summit
“Obviously, in an analogue world, that is not scaleable, it is not affordable, with AI there is potential for that to be completely scaleable and cost-efficient and we are already rolling out tools that support teachers to improve their time in the classroom…
“Over the past decade, we have marched up all of the international league tables in reading, maths and science and it shows that focusing on standards, how you teach and the quality of the teaching can be far more important and determinative than just how much money you are throwing in.”
Sunak made clear that he wants the UK to be at the heart of the burgeoning AI technology and three weeks ago hosted a global summit on AI safety.
Speaking on the margins of that conference, billionaire Elon Musk told Sunak in a televised question and answer sessions that AI will eventually mean that no one will have to work.
The pair talked about how London was a leading hub for the AI industry and how the technology could transform learning.
They discussed the possibilities AI presents for young people’s learning, with Musk telling Sunak that AI could be “the best and most patient tutor”.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the summit, the PM said there is “very positive momentum behind the UK economy” as leading investors gathered at Hampton Court Palace.
He said: “My singular focus is driving growth and creating jobs across the UK. So I’m delighted that we’ve secured investments worth around £30 billion – three times the amount that was secured the last time this summit was held a little while ago.
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“And that comes on the back of a very positive autumn statement where we cut taxes for those businesses that are investing in our future growth, and also the great announcements from Nissan last week, securing the future of that plant in Sunderland, building three new lines of the next generation of electric vehicles.
“So very positive momentum behind the UK economy.”
