Education in times of AI and Big EdTech

Policy Brief

As US Big Tech companies expand their dominance over foundational AI value chains, they are increasingly developing and deploying AI models and technologies for specific sectors, including education. The Education Technology (EdTech) market combines specialised companies such as Duolingo and Coursera with expanding offerings from Big Tech.

This policy brief examines the adoption of AI in primary and secondary education, focusing on the growing role of US Big Tech and AI companies in both AI-enabled education (AIED) and AI literacy. Beyond providing technologies for teaching and learning, companies increasingly seek to shape how AI itself is taught. For example, Google has established agreements with India and the African Union Commission to provide AI literacy training for teachers and students, including training on its own AI products.

While Big Tech’s influence is also expanding across higher and adult education, primary and secondary education warrants particular attention because these technologies interact with minors at scale and are often adopted through public policy.

The brief identifies key concerns surrounding Big Tech-driven EdTech adoption and explores how educational technologies could instead be developed and governed through democratic, sovereign and public-interest approaches. Focusing on Europe while considering international alternatives, it concludes by situating EdTech within a broader debate on education as a fundamental right and public good, rather than a market-driven commodity.