From Humans in the Loop to Humans at the Center: Why Teachers Must Steer the Future of AI in Education

Digital Promise has always been committed to ensuring that technology serves educators and learners—not the other way around. Our dedication to this teacher-centered vision is deepening through an exciting new global role: Digital Promise is thrilled to announce that we are co-chairing the Teacher Task Force (TTF)’s new Thematic Group on Digital Education and Artificial Intelligence (AI), alongside our partners at Education Futures Collaboration (MESHGuides).

The International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 (TFF) is a global coalition advocating for teachers and the teaching profession. The new thematic group is fostering a community among TTF members to create, share, and document new knowledge and practices, and to drive global thought leadership and advocacy on digital education and AI.

Launching a Global Mandate: Centering Teacher Agency at Digital Learning Week

The global urgency of the AI-in-education conversation was on display at Digital Learning Week 2025 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, which centered on the theme, “AI and the Future of Education: Disruptions, Dilemmas, and Directions.” Representing Digital Promise, I had the honor of participating in a panel session launching the new TTF position paper: “Promoting and Protecting Teacher Agency in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

The paper’s central message is clear and non-negotiable: Teachers—not technology—must steer the transformation of education. Preserving and promoting teacher agency is essential because educators bring uniquely human qualities—pedagogical judgment, ethical reasoning, and emotional connection—that machines simply cannot replicate. For AI to genuinely enhance learning, it must first be guided by those who understand the classroom and learners best.

Shaping Policy and Practice through Positionality

In a rapidly changing educational landscape, the need for a clear, structured, ethical position on AI’s role is critical. Without foregrounding the teacher, AI adoption risks exacerbating inequities, de-skilling the teaching profession, and leading to overly standardized education.

To address this urgent need, the position paper outlines a clear framework for action, centered on key themes:

• AI as a support (not a replacement): AI can support teachers by reducing workload, broadening access to resources, and fostering inclusion.
• Investing in competency: Teachers need opportunities to build strong competencies to use AI critically and confidently.
• Humans first: Human-centered pedagogies must remain at the core of education.
  Safeguarding diversity and ethics: Engaging teachers’ voices and monitoring and correcting for bias will ensure ethical, equitable AI adoption.

Crucially, this landmark paper is not a top-down mandate; it is informed by a consultative process led by the members of our TTF thematic group. Engaging a diverse array of stakeholders—including policymakers, practitioners, and civil society—in input and feedback ensures the paper reflects the complex and varied realities of classrooms around the world.

The Path Forward: Digital Promise’s Commitment

The launch of the position paper serves as a foundational contribution of the new TTF Thematic Group on Digital Education and AI. Our co-chairing role solidifies Digital Promise’s commitment to shaping policies globally and translating them into tangible, equitable changes within education systems worldwide.

The mandate is clear: to leverage the power of global consensus to ensure AI reinforces the central role of teachers in education. We invite you to join us in this critical work.

• Read the full position paper: Promoting and Protecting Teacher Agency in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
• Visit the TTF blog for a summary of key insights: Strengthening teacher agency in the age of AI: Insights from a new position paper
• Explore how Digital Promise is promoting equitable education worldwide: Global Education Practice