Artificial Intelligence Video

Reading Is Hard to Teach. Can AI Help?

By Alyson Klein & Yi-Jo Shen — March 27, 2026 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Artificial intelligence might be able to drive cars, treat diseases, and train your front door to recognize your face. But can it help kids learn how to read?

The answer from some experts is that it won’t be long before AI tools for reading instruction are commonplace in schools.

But those predictions come with a big caveat: Relying too heavily on AI could be counterproductive.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
Managing AI in Schools: Practical Strategies for Districts
How should districts govern AI in schools? Learn practical strategies for policies, safety, transparency, as well as responsible adoption.
Content provided by Lightspeed Systems
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
Unlocking Success for Struggling Adolescent Readers
The Science of Reading transformed K-3 literacy. Now it's time to extend that focus to students in grades 6 through 12.
Content provided by STARI
Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and K-12 education jubs at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Artificial Intelligence What the Research Says AI Chatbots Tend Toward Flattery. Why That's Bad for Students
Flattering technology can make people less willing to admit they are wrong.
6 min read
Illustration of AI robot manipulating a child's mind like a puppet on a string, the girl is using a laptop and interacting with an AI chatbot.
iStock
Artificial Intelligence FAQ: Artificial Intelligence in Schools
Education Week answers some key questions about the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
1 min read
Students grab Chromebooks during Casey Cuny's English class at Valencia High School in Santa Clarita, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.
Students grab Chromebooks during Casey Cuny's English class at Valencia High School in Santa Clarita, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Artificial Intelligence Students Are Worried That AI Will Hurt Their Critical Thinking Skills
Despite those concerns, students are using the tech more and more for schoolwork.
4 min read
Students present their AI powered-projects designed to help boost agricultural gains in Calla Bartschi’s Introduction to AI class at Riverside High School in Greer, S.C., on Nov. 11, 2025.
Students present their AI-powered projects designed to help boost agricultural gains during an introduction to AI class at a high school in Greer, S.C., on Nov. 11, 2025. A new RAND Corp. survey of middle, high school, and college students shows nearly 7 in 10 middle and high school students say they are concerned that using AI for schoolwork is eroding their critical thinking skills.
Thomas Hammond for Education Week
Artificial Intelligence How AI Could Help or Hurt Student Testing
There's a balance to strike that uses AI to improve assessments and keep humans in charge, experts say.
4 min read
TeachersAI SG01
Teachers attend a training session on using artificial intelligence at American Federation of Teachers headquarters in New York City on March 18, 2026. The union has partnered with AI developers to train 400,000 teachers on AI use in the classroom. One question teachers face is how best to use the technology as part of testing students' subject mastery.
Salwan Georges for Education Week