In September, UNESCO released a report that highlighted the need for India to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI). The stark digital divide in India however has prompted many experts to express doubts if AI can really solve the problems of access and equity. While there may be some truth in the apprehensions, perhaps a deeper issue is whether the EdTech sector has even tried to leverage AI to address the needs of India beyond the "upper middle class". Post pandemic India is ready for innovations that can address this gap and drive the EdTech industry forward. Since its emergence in the mid-1950s, AI has grown considerably. Along with big data, blockchain, augmented reality and the Internet of Things (IoT), AI has been hailed for ushering in the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0.

When there is a talk about educational technology or EdTech, people usually think of a classroom full of students immersed in their tablets or smartphones--perhaps dissecting cyber-rats? That happens, undoubtedly, but EdTech goes beyond K-12 classroom engagement tools, and plays a very important role in the learning experience. That includes classroom assessment tools for teachers, education-specific fundraising sites, reader-adaptive e-books, and more. And catering to this need are edtech companies that are using new-age technologies to educate, entertain, and engage the modern student. This article features the top six best EdTech companies transforming robotics and artificial intelligence.

Exposing children to AI helps them build logical reasoning skills and helps them understand use of digital tools with higher awareness.

India's edtech companies have unleashed their full potential in 2020. NITI Aayog, which concerns itself with developing a state-of-the-art resource center to promote research and innovation for the Indian government, initiated a program to enlighten young minds with entrepreneurship in 2016. Known as The Atal Mission Innovation (AIM), it aims at encouraging children to have a problem-solving mindset in school that can result in entrepreneurship in the future. While the COVID-19 pandemic, since 2020, has hampered the Indian education system by shifting it from on-premises to online, AIM could not be enforced to its maximum in schools. Despite the challenges, the need for practical learning has to be maintained for future adults.

Artificial intelligence is having a huge impact on education, transforming the sector in many positive ways and its impact is growing. In fact, the artificial intelligence sector in the U.S. education market is expected to grow 47.5% between 2017 and 2021 according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Artificial intelligence is changing how teachers are doing their jobs and how students are learning and studying. AI makes personalized learning possible, can assist teachers with curriculum adaptationand streamline administrative tasks. Now, scientists are trying to find out if the technology can be leveraged to measure student engagement.