AI & International Education: Equity Driven Implementation, Investment Tides, and Regulatory Retreats

Walter McKenzie
Dec 30, 2025
3 min read

Who shapes AI’s role in education, and to what ends? The headlines point to three dominant patterns - equitable implementation, massive private investment, and political pushback that weakens safety and governance.

Equity‑Centered AI Literacy in Maryland

In Prince George’s County, Maryland, a school system partnered with activist and educator leaders to embed AI literacy and creativity tools like Lumi Story AI into classrooms. This isn’t another “edtech rollout”; it’s explicitly designed to close gaps in access, representation, and student voice. The policy ensures AI supplements instruction rather than replaces teachers, embedding ethics, professional development, and phased pilots. For districts globally, this model offers a roadmap: center equity rather than efficiency in AI adoption.

Read more here.

Billions Flow Into India — But At What Cost?

India’s AI investment surge - with over $67 billion pledged by major tech companies - underscores how private capital is reshaping national digital landscapes. Data centers, training programs, and infrastructure expansion could unlock opportunity at scale. Yet critics caution about environmental impacts, uneven infrastructure, and risks to traditional labor sectors. When ecosystems scale faster than regulatory and educational frameworks, the long‑term effects on workforce learning and equitable education access remain uncertain.

See more here.

Regulatory Retreat: New York’s AI Safety Bill Diluted

In New York, policymakers signed a weakened AI safety bill after coordinated lobbying by tech and academic interests. The original legislation aimed to enforce safety plans and incident reporting for large AI models - a crucial step toward accountability in sectors affecting public trust. Instead, weakened mandates now risk blunting meaningful oversight. When universities align with industry against robust safeguards, it signals an erosion of civic responsibility at the intersection of education and technology governance.

Details here.

Why These Stories Matter for the Future of Education

These trends illuminate a core tension in global education policy: innovation versus intentionality. The Maryland case illustrates how systems can embed AI with equity and human‑centered purpose. India’s investment narrative shows the scale of private capital shaping public education priorities - often faster than policy frameworks can keep pace. And New York’s legislative shift reflects how established institutions sometimes sideline accountability in favor of market interests.

A Final Thought

AI in education is no longer an experiment - it’s an ongoing negotiation. If we don’t define why we integrate AI, systems will integrate for us. The safest assumption isn’t that technology is neutral - it’s that unchecked tech amplifies existing inequalities. Design intentionally, measure impact honestly, and center human agency at every step. Only then will AI become a catalyst for meaningful learning, not a reinforcer of old patterns in new code.

Also in the News

Global AI Curriculum Momentum

Nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia are turning AI education into structured policy, mapping pathways from kindergarten through secondary school - a clear signal that “pilot phase” is over.

UNICEF’s AI Guidance for Children

New child‑rights frameworks urge policymakers to balance opportunity with protection in AI systems impacting young people.

AI‑Driven Schooling Redesign Advocate

A study published today argues for systemic transformation - replacing fixed curricula and age bands with AI‑enabled, personalized learning ecosystems.

Girish C. Ballolla is the founder and CEO of Gen Next Education, providing strategic expertise and tactical coordination to help universities advance their global reach, impact, and visibility. He works across industries and has experience with educational institutions and non-profits, start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. This piece was originally posted December 29, 2025 in his Next Up Newsletter, and is cross-posted here with his permission. You can reach Girish directly via email here.