Bill Gates Talks Artificial Intelligence in Education

In a recent interview with The Verge, the Microsoft founder and long-time education proponent explained how advancements in AI will make personalized learning more effective. At present, personalized-learning software allows students to move through course content at their own pace: Students who master material quickly advance to the next subject, while students who require extra practice can revisit modules as needed. Although studies -- such as those conducted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation -- show that the approach can positively impact learning outcomes, Gates thinks there's room for improvement, especially when it comes to human-software interactions. He describes the technology's failings in his interview with The Verge: Today's interactivity is OK: I answered a few questions wrong, so then it repeats the lecture. You know, part of the reason I'm so willing to tackle new subjects is that for each of those subjects, if I get utterly confused, I know somebody I can send an email to, and they'll straighten me out.