Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing higher education by enabling learning that is better tailored to students’ individual needs. According to Maurício Garcia, a digital scientist at Solvertank, the personalization of education—a goal that has been sought for years—is now gaining momentum thanks to a new approach.

"The concept of 'adaptive learning' has been popular in the past, proposing personalized learning paths for each student based on their preferences and learning gaps. However, this approach required major curricular changes and posed logistical and financial challenges. With recent advances in AI, personalization is back in the spotlight, but in a more feasible form: through ‘adaptive content,’ which does not require changes to the curriculum structure—only the content presented in each class is personalized, ” explains Garcia.

According to him, this transformation will be most noticeable in distance learning, where students are already connected to digital systems. “In distance learning, I believe we will see significant changes, including the creation of content in real time. In face-to-face instruction, the impact is likely to be less pronounced,” he says.

To demonstrate the benefits of AI in learning in practice, Garcia has been developing free educational solutions on the SolverEdu platform, where he makes open-source code available so that anyone can access it.

Ethical Challenges

The growing adoption of AI in academic institutions also raises ethical questions, especially with regard to student assessment. According to Garcia, in the United States, where attendance at in-person classes is not typically monitored and grades are based on assignments, renowned universities such as Harvard, Duke, and Princeton have reported absenteeism rates of up to 70%. “Students are using AI on a massive scale to complete their assignments, and this is raising concerns,” he notes.

Digital scientist Maurício Garcia will be one of the speakers at the Ahead by Bett Forum. Photo: Personal archive.

Despite the challenges, he points out that AI is already part of everyday academic life and that both students and professors are using this technology. “Institutions will need to rethink their pedagogical models, given that students will inevitably use AI.” In this sense, the ethical discussion surrounding the use of AI is much more closely related to its impacts on society—such as unemployment, misinformation, and environmental degradation—than to the academic environment itself, particularly with regard to assessment processes.”

The New Role of the Teacher

As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in higher education, the role of the professor is also changing. According to Garcia, the impact of AI will vary depending on the type of instruction. “In distance learning, AI will play a role on several fronts, from content generation to grading assignments and providing student support. The professor’s role will be more focused on curriculum design and overseeing the AI’s use in these activities,” he explains.

As for in-person instruction, he believes that automation will be more limited. “AI will be used mainly for lesson planning and grading assignments, through specialized apps. However, outside the classroom, students will have access to systems similar to those developed for distance learning,” he adds.

See also:

• How can we balance technology and emotional well-being in the digital age?
• Neurodiversity in Schools: Challenges and Pathways to Equitable Education
• The 30th edition of Bett Brasil will offer an immersive experience for education students in partnership with FMU

To address this new reality, Garcia argues that teacher training should be expanded. “Teachers will need to acquire knowledge in curriculum design, the use of AI, and, above all, the development of AI-based educational systems. Knowing how to program—at least the basics of Python—will be essential,” he concludes.

Maurício Garcia will be speaking atthe Ahead by Bett Forum during the 30th edition of Bett Brasil, in a presentationtitled “Artificial Intelligence and the New Paradigm in Academic Education,” on April 30 at 10 a.m. To participate in the Ahead by Bett Forum, register here. 

Brazil is one of the AI hubs in Latin America

In the global race to develop AI, Brazil is establishing itself as one of the leading technology hubs in Latin America. The country has 144 research facilities dedicated to this field, according to a survey by the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE).

The country’s scientific output in this field placed it 15th in the global ranking of academic publications between 2000 and 2022. In addition, public investment in AI is expected to reach R$ 22 billion by 2028, with every real invested by the public sector generating R$ 3.34 in private-sector investment.

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