AI should empower educators, not replace them: Delhi Education Minister at PHDCCI’s International Conference on AI in Education

“AI should empower teachers, not replace them. It must free them from repetitive tasks so they can do what only humans can – inspire, mentor and guide students,” said Ashish Sood, Minister of Home, Power and Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, as he inaugurated the International Conference on ‘AI in Education for Viksit Bharat @2047’, organized by PHDCCI in collaboration with Paris-headquartered OECD and Association of Indian Universities (AIU) on 1st August 2025 at PHD House, New Delhi.

Calling for purposeful integration of technology in education, the Minister highlighted Delhi Government’s pioneering initiatives such as AI-powered smart classrooms, gamified assessments and dedicated AI training for teachers. He invoked the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘double AI’ Artificial Intelligence and Aspirational India and remarked, “Change is the only constant. If we don’t evolve, we risk ending up like Nokia – once dominant, now obsolete.”

The two-day international conference brings together policy leaders, educators, AI experts, researchers and industry stakeholders from India and abroad to discuss how artificial intelligence can be strategically and ethically integrated into India’s education system to achieve the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

In his Presidential Address, Hemant Jain, President, PHDCCI, urged the education sector to embrace AI as a strategic tool, akin to how computers revolutionized the workplace. “Every industrial transformation is preceded by an educational transformation,” he said, noting that PHDCCI itself is actively adopting AI in its internal functions.

Himanshu Gupta, Secretary, CBSE, echoed these sentiments, stating, “Let AI manage the routine so teachers can focus on building human connections, something no machine can replicate.”

Declaring 2025 the ‘Year of AI in Education’, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, said, “There’s nothing artificial about this intelligence, it’s here, it’s real and it’s reshaping the way students engage with knowledge.” He urged a swift move toward student-centric and experiential pedagogy.

From the global front, Dr. Stephan Vincent-Lancrin, Senior Analyst & Deputy Head, Directorate of Education, OECD, praised India’s growing leadership in AI-for-education policy. “India is setting a global benchmark by fostering collaboration across government, academia and industry to build inclusive and ethical AI ecosystems in education.”

Opening the conference, Shreevats Jaipuria, Chair – Education Committee, PHDCCI and Vice Chairman, Jaipuria Management Institute, emphasized that AI will not replace teachers, but teachers who use AI will empower the next generation. He outlined the growing importance of personalized learning, real-time analytics and inclusive digital infrastructure.

Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO & Secretary General, PHDCCI, welcomed the delegates and underlined that education is the bedrock of national development. “A well-educated child becomes a capable professional and responsible citizen. That’s why we proudly place education at the center of our development efforts. He added that AI is no longer futuristic, it is a critical tool to drive people-centric progress.

Sonali Jain, Co-Chair, PHDCCI Education Committee & Vice Chairperson, Sumermal Jain Public School, delivered the vote of thanks, reinforcing that “AI must enhance, not diminish the human touch in education.”

The session was moderated by Shalini S Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI. The event was supported by Jaipuria Management Institute, Pathways School Gurgaon and Learning Links Foundation.