The Challenge of the New School Year

Today, on Knowledge Day, the new school year begins in Armenia and several other countries, including Ukraine, Poland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary and others. In many countries around the world, including Finland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland, the 2026 – 2027 school year has already begun in August.

The new school year brings a major global question to the education agenda: how is education changing in the age of artificial intelligence? This is the focus of UNESCO’s conference, “Education in the Age of AI: Facts | Frictions | Frontiers,” which will take place in Paris from September 8 – 11.

According to UNESCO, the influence of artificial intelligence on education continues to expand rapidly. AI tutors are reaching learners who previously had no access to personalized support, while “agentic” AI systems are beginning to operate autonomously, without direct human instructions. At the same time, synthetic content generated by AI is changing how knowledge is produced and validated.

UNESCO also draws attention to new phenomena that may challenge our understanding of education systems. “Synthetic research” is emerging in research and assessment processes, while “ghost learners” are appearing in educational environments, raising questions about evidence, participation and learners’ actual presence.

In Paris, participants will discuss what counts as fact in an age of “synthetic” knowledge, how to navigate the challenges AI is creating across education systems, and what new opportunities are emerging — from AI for the public interest and digital sovereignty to analogue and community-led approaches.

The UNESCO conference is expected to bring together education ministers, experts, representatives of technology companies, educators and learners from 25 countries․ The event will also include the adoption of a joint ministerial statement on preserving education as a public good in the age of AI.