MUMBAI – Education leaders gathered recently to advocate for a fundamental overhaul of schooling systems. The goal: integrate artificial intelligence (AI) to create equitable and scalable learning opportunities across India.
Reliance Foundation and Central Square Foundation co-hosted the high-level dialogue. This half-day roundtable took place at Jio Institute in Navi Mumbai. Over 50 leaders attended, representing philanthropy, edtech firms, academia, and the private sector. The event served as an official precursor to the India AI Impact Summit 2026 .
Redesigning Education for an AI Future
Participants focused on moving AI-enabled education tools from pilot projects to measurable learning gains. A key emphasis was on low-resource and multilingual environments. Speakers underscored the need for sustained collaboration. This involves governments, innovators, researchers, funders, and industry working together. The aim is to embed AI meaningfully within education systems, not as isolated solutions.
Shailesh Kumar, Chief Data Scientist at Jio and Dean of Jio Institute, delivered the keynote address. Kumar asserted education systems must undergo redesign for a digital- and AI-first world. He called for a paradigm shift, moving from uniform, “one-size-fits-all” teaching models. Instead, he advocated for personalized, mastery-based learning, which AI can facilitate.
AI’s Role and Necessary Safeguards
The dialogue highlighted several emerging applications of AI in education. These include personalized instruction, tools supporting teachers, enhanced assessment methods, and solutions for home-based learning. Discussions specifically addressed early childhood education, foundational literacy, and numeracy.
However, leaders issued a caution. Technological innovation alone does not ensure improved learning outcomes. They stressed the need for strict alignment with learning science principles. Inclusion safeguards and outcome-based measurement are also critical components. Ignoring these aspects risks ineffective implementation.
Addressing Implementation Challenges
Vanita Sharma, an advisor for strategic initiatives at Reliance Foundation, provided insight into practical implementation. “Building AI and EdTech for impact is not just about the technology itself,” Sharma stated. “It is about understanding the ground realities of implementing it in classrooms, homes, and communities.”
The discussion identified key challenges to scaling AI-enabled learning solutions across diverse settings:
- Generating adequate multilingual content.
- Functioning effectively in low-bandwidth environments.
- Managing situations with shared-device usage among students.
- Successfully integrating new tools with existing government education systems.
Philanthropy’s Role and Collaborative Success
A significant portion of the dialogue focused on philanthropy’s role in enabling systemic change. Speakers emphasized its importance in de-risking early-stage innovation. Philanthropic support also aids in long-term evidence generation and builds institutional capacity within the education sector.
Insights came from the LiftEd EdTech Accelerator, a multi-year initiative. This program has reached over 3 million children . The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Reliance Foundation, and UBS Optimus Foundation provide support to LiftEd.
Gouri Gupta, Senior Project Director for EdTech at Central Square Foundation, elaborated on scaling strategies. “The next frontier for EdTech is not just innovation,” Gupta said. “It is scaling proven, contextualized solutions through government systems and community adoption to drive learning outcomes at scale.”
Recommendations for Future Action
Participants concluded AI must serve primarily as an enabler for teachers and parents. Its application should reinforce equity rather than solely focusing on efficiency. The recommendations generated from this dialogue will directly contribute to the education agenda. These will inform national and global deliberations at the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026 . The summit is scheduled for February 2026 in New Delhi.