The 2022 International Forum on AI (artificial intelligence) and Education was recently held online.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Alibaba founder and Chairman Jack Ma kicked off the 2019 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China, with an informal debate about AI and its implications to humanity. Throughout their conversation, Musk and Ma touched on several topics, from jobs, the need for educational reform, moving to Mars, and how humans' way of life can improve in the future. The two billionaires have vastly differing points of view concerning artificial intelligence. While Musk is cautious about AI considering the dangers it may pose to humanity, Ma is far more optimistic. "I don't think AI is a threat," Ma said, responding to the Tesla CEO's introductory points.

On a visit to China this summer, I was asked by a local journalist if I thought their country's education and training system was ready for artificial intelligence (AI) and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). This got me thinking about what it means for any country – let's say the UK – to be AI-ready in educational terms. In this country, there is increasing discussion and debate around the use of technology, including AI, in teaching and learning. Most teachers know the technology exists, but perhaps not necessarily how it can help them in their everyday work. Need to know: What is the fourth industrial revolution?