Can AI Replace Educators?

I recently came across an article about AI and the concept of “creative destruction.” Sounds a bit dramatic, right? For those who haven’t heard the term before, “creative destruction” is a classic idea in economics that describes how better, newer models inevitably replace outdated ones. In that article, there was one argument that really stuck with me: “Traditional roles of teachers like transmitting knowledge or inspiring students are gradually being replaced by AI models that can tutor, give real-time feedback, and adjust content dynamically.” Now, as someone who actually works on applying AI in education, I have to say I don’t quite agree. If you were a student during the global COVID lockdowns like I was, you probably know that feeling: laptop on the bed, Zoom class running, mic off, camera off, half-asleep until the teacher calls your name for attendance. Everyone, teachers and students alike, was lost, awkward, and pretty much bored. That period made me realize something: education isn’t just about absorbing information. It’s also about becoming a person. It’s about forming values, building emotional intelligence, and figuring out how you make sense of the world. Even the driest math class or the most abstract literature lesson has a human scent to it. There’s the sigh when you fail a test, the look of encouragement from your teacher, the head nod that says “you’re on the right track,” and the tiny, real emotional moments shared with classmates. Yes, AI can give you quick feedback. It can personalize lessons. It can grade your work in seconds. But no matter how powerful or fast AI becomes, it still can’t replicate the emotional connection, the human intuition, or the sense of presence that a real teacher brings into a room. I’m not against AI in education, far from it. I actually think it’s an amazing tool. But a tool is what it is. Teachers are still the ones who guide, connect, and support students in their journey of learning and growing. To me, AI can be a fantastic companion for both students and teachers. And honestly, AI getting smarter shouldn’t scare teachers. Banning students from using AI is kind of like banning them from using reference materials, but not showing them how to actually learn from it. And let’s be real, the more you ban something, the better students get on how to use it sneakily, and you end up losing trust and connection. But if a teacher knows how to use AI to make lessons more engaging, more personalized, and more aligned with what students actually care about, then school wouldn’t feel like a chore anymore. Homework wouldn’t just be something to “get over with.” Maybe learning could actually feel meaningful, maybe even fun.