Back in the day, to do research you would have to spend hours tirelessly toiling away through library catalogs and old books, but in this day and age we have AI. AI is all around us — in cars, phones, computers and even toilets — but now there is the idea of AI being incorporated in schools. This is a very controversial topic. Some people think it is an amazing idea, others not so much, and I wanted to find out if AI could actually help in schools. That's why I chose to interview Elaine Hou, the head of technology at Stevens Cooperative School, one of the schools deciding to incorporate Magic School, an AI startup for schools, in their classrooms.
But what is Magic School AI?
Magic School AI is an AI startup meant to help schools. It was founded in 2023 by Adeel Khan, a 38-year-old entrepreneur and former school principal from Virginia, whose goal was not to replace teachers, but just to help them do their job more efficiently. Magic School AI also has multiple tools like an AI rubric generator, a presentation generator, a research assistant for students, and even a character chatbot that uses historical data to bring important historical figures back to life. This can make AI a great tool in the classroom if it is handled responsibly.
Pros and cons of AI in the classroom
Like I said, AI in classrooms is still a controversial thing, so I'm going to give you the pros and cons. Some pros are that automated grading, lesson planning, and rubric generation can save multiple hours for teachers each week, freeing up more time to give real, humane feedback to students. According to Magic School AI, teachers save 7 to 10 hours per week by automating routine, time-intensive administrative tasks. For students, a pro is that AI tools can mold into whatever a student needs and be available 24/7. The always-available, personalized tutor that offers instant feedback, supports different learning needs, and builds skills can be really valuable if used the right way.
But there can be significant drawbacks. Critical thinking and problem solving are important skills for children to develop. An article published in the New York Times states that AI in schools might lead to loss of critical thinking. Similarly, research by the WSJ says that when students started using AI for learning in NYC public schools from 2025 to 2026, reading proficiency rates declined 6 points among third- through eighth-graders.
Conclusion
In my conversation with teachers, some said that AI was a big help in organizing their busy schedules and helping them plan lessons and make rubrics. But they were also worried that some of their students were using it as a crutch. It's like when you break a leg and get crutches — you can't rely on them forever. Eventually we will have to use our brain for deciding what is right vs wrong, and for that we need to focus on developing problem solving and critical thinking. So in conclusion, AI can be a very useful tool, but only if you use it correctly. I am a big technology enthusiast and excited to use AI in schools, but it's important that me and my friends learn to use it the right way.