Introduction
In this insightful CNBC interview, Salman Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy and author of “Brave New Words,” addresses one of the most pressing questions in modern education: how artificial intelligence should be integrated into classrooms. Drawing from Khan Academy’s extensive experience with over 1.5 million students using their AI tools in formal partnerships, Khan makes a compelling case that while AI can revolutionize learning, teachers remain more critical than ever to student success.
Khan’s perspective builds on his broader vision outlined in his TED talk, where he positioned AI as potentially saving rather than destroying education through personalized tutoring capabilities, but this interview focuses specifically on the practical realities of classroom implementation.
About Khan Academy’s AI Classroom
Khan Academy has emerged as a pioneer in integrating artificial intelligence into educational environments through their groundbreaking AI-powered platform, Khanmigo. As one of the most comprehensive AI educational initiatives globally, Khan Academy’s approach represents a thoughtful balance between technological innovation and pedagogical excellence, serving over 160 million learners worldwide and supporting more than 6 million teachers.
Khan’s vision extends beyond simply deploying AI tools, aiming to provide personalized tutoring for every student worldwide while enhancing teacher capabilities rather than replacing them. The organization’s nonprofit status ensures that AI development remains focused on learning outcomes rather than profit, making them uniquely positioned to lead responsible AI implementation in education.
The Khanmigo Platform: Core Architecture and Features
What is Khanmigo?
Khanmigo is Khan Academy’s AI-powered assistant that functions as both a virtual tutor for students and a classroom assistant for teachers, built on GPT-4 technology and integrated into Khan Academy’s comprehensive content library. Unlike generic AI tools like ChatGPT, Khanmigo doesn’t simply provide answers but guides learners to discover solutions themselves with limitless patience.
Dual-Purpose Design
For Students:
- Personalized Tutoring: Khanmigo provides step-by-step guidance when students are stuck, offering hints and support without giving direct answers
- Companion Mode: Students can interact with Khanmigo at any point in their learning journey, receiving proactive guidance when they answer questions incorrectly
- Subject Coverage: Khanmigo supports learning from elementary school through college across math, science, coding, history, and humanities
For Teachers:
- Administrative Support: Khanmigo handles time-consuming tasks like differentiation, lesson plans, quiz questions, student groupings, hooks, exit tickets, and rubrics
- Real-time Insights: Teachers receive on-demand summaries of student work to quickly assess progress and identify areas needing additional support
- Standards Alignment: All generated content aligns with educational standards and integrates with Khan Academy’s proven content library
Implementation Models and Access
District Partnerships: The Primary Classroom Model
Classroom access to Khanmigo is exclusively available through school or district implementations, ensuring comprehensive support and proper integration. Khan Academy’s District Partnership program provides participating schools with dedicated support, professional learning, data tools, and administrator dashboards.
Benefits of District Partnerships:
- Enhanced Performance: Recommended use of Khan Academy’s platform results in about 20% higher than expected gains on state tests
- Increased Engagement: Students in Khan Academy District Partnerships are 10x more likely to reach recommended usage levels
- Comprehensive Support: Professional development, custom training, onboarding assistance, and ongoing strategy updates
Microsoft Partnership: Expanding Access
A groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft enables Khan Academy to offer all K-12 educators in the U.S. free access to Khanmigo for Teachers, powered by Azure OpenAI Service. This collaboration represents a significant step toward democratizing AI access in education.
Partnership Benefits:
- Infrastructure Support: Microsoft’s donation of Azure AI-optimized infrastructure
- Scalability: Collaboration to explore AI tools for math tutoring using Microsoft’s Phi-3 small language models
- Accessibility: Free access for all U.S. K-12 educators
Teacher Tools and Classroom Features
Comprehensive Tool Suite
Khanmigo offers over 25 educator-specific tools organized into four main categories: Plan, Create, Differentiate, and Support.
Planning Tools:
- Review student performance trends and craft meaningful discussion prompts
- Create quick end-of-lesson assessments and enhance instructional planning
Creation Tools:
- Generate concise assignment directions and create detailed rubrics
- Design engaging class newsletters and streamline communication
Differentiation Tools:
- Break up complex texts and adjust text complexity for diverse learners
- Link lesson content to students’ lives and interests to enhance engagement
Support Tools:
- Streamline creation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
- Enhance student support services across diverse needs
Real-Time Classroom Management
The Class Snapshot feature provides teachers with comprehensive overviews of student performance, including learning time, assignment completion, skill progress, and mastery goals. Teachers can generate personalized prompts and recommendations for student support, draft parent letters, and even translate communications into different languages.
Student Experience and Learning Outcomes
Personalized Learning Journey
Student testimonials reveal that Khanmigo helps learners who previously struggled with subjects like math, with one 10th grader noting: “Before a test or quiz, I ask Khanmigo to give me practice problems, and I feel more prepared—and my score increases”.
Key Student Features:
- Tutor Me Activities: Students can ask for help on specific questions or request practice problem sets across math, science, and humanities
- Patient Guidance: Students appreciate Khanmigo’s patience and kind tone, with one noting: “if it’s wrong, it’ll tell you that’s wrong but in a nice way”
- Continuous Support: 24/7 availability for homework help and concept clarification
Safety and Moderation
Khan Academy implements comprehensive guardrails and safety mechanisms, with messages notifying students that chat history and activities are visible to parents and teachers. The system automatically flags problematic questions or comments for teacher review.
Real-World Implementation Results
Oklahoma’s ECHO Partnership Success
Through a partnership with Project ECHO, Oklahoma schools have seen remarkable results, with one pilot school (Enid High) reporting zero failing students in geometry after one semester of Khanmigo implementation.
Implementation Process:
- Teacher Training: Teachers participated in regular online training through Project ECHO before classroom implementation
- Ongoing Support: Led by Khan Academy experts in partnership with Oklahoma State University faculty, ECHO trainings continue throughout the school year
- Teacher Feedback: “This was the easiest implementation of a new technology that I’ve ever done,” says Tyler Elders, an instructional coach at Enid High School
Classroom Impact Stories
Math teacher Stephanie Garis reports: “Some of my kids have holes in their algebra skills. Khanmigo helps me fill in those holes”. Teachers also use Khanmigo to “frontload” subjects, preparing students with foundational knowledge before introducing new concepts.
Administrative Benefits: Teaching specialist Stephanie Franco, who supports over 40 English language learners across 70+ teachers, notes that Khanmigo’s teacher tools save her hours each week.
Data and Analytics for Educators
Comprehensive Reporting System
The Khanmigo Classroom Pilot offers five different reports for teachers: Activity reports, Mastery reports, Assignment Completion reports, and Khanmigo Usage reports.
Teacher-Level Analytics:
- Class Snapshot activity provides data on student Khan Academy usage, including Khanmigo interactions
- Chat History Summaries offer insights into topics students discussed with Khanmigo
- Teachers receive email notifications when student conversations are flagged by the moderation system
Administrator Dashboards: District administrators have access to comprehensive data including activation summaries, skills mastery tracking, Khanmigo usage analytics, and learning time summaries.
Quality Assurance and Educational Standards
Recognition and Ratings
Common Sense Media awarded Khanmigo 4 stars when rating AI tools for learning, placing it above other AI tools like ChatGPT and Bard. Khanmigo receives an overall 4-star rating, making it a top-rated AI-for-education tool.
Teacher Testimonials
Brandae Rossini, Math Department Chair at Adolfo Camarillo High School, states: “I like the activity generator and the question generator for me as a teacher, to be able to come up with questions, or to come up with project ideas or activities for me to use”.
Sarah Thaler, a former high school science teacher and current District Success Manager, notes: “I am especially excited about the ‘Class Newsletter’ activity. As a former high school science teacher, I always felt it was important to regularly discuss what was happening in my classroom with parents”.
Training and Professional Development
Comprehensive Learning Resources
Khan Academy provides extensive training resources including a dedicated “Khanmigo for educators course” that covers AI essentials, ethical considerations, and practical applications.
Training Components:
- Certification Program: Teachers receive personalized certificates upon course completion
- Video Resources: Curated YouTube playlists for AI in Education and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- Administrator Guidance: AI Resource Hub specifically designed for school and district administrators
Video about AI in classrooms
Content Sections
The Human Factor: Why Teachers Matter More Than Technology
The Engagement Challenge
Khan begins by addressing a fundamental misconception: that simply deploying AI tools in classrooms will automatically improve learning outcomes. He acknowledges his own early naivety, admitting that even the most engaging and capable tools require human facilitation to be effective. The single most powerful factor in classroom success isn’t the technology—it’s teacher engagement and accountability.
This aligns with recent research findings that show mixed results for AI in education, with some studies indicating that AI tools can actually hinder learning when students aren’t actively engaged. Khan emphasizes that successful implementation requires investment in “human systems”—supporting teachers with professional development and celebrating schools that drive meaningful student engagement.
The Newark Success Story
Khan highlights Newark, New Jersey as a prime example of effective AI integration. Despite initial skepticism about implementing AI tools in a large, complex urban school district where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, the results have been remarkable:
- 60-70% of students achieve engagement levels that drive academic outcomes
- District-wide improvement in math scores across all schools
- Systematic tracking allows leadership to identify and support struggling classrooms without penalization
The key to Newark’s success lies in their approach to teacher support and data-driven accountability, proving that technology amplifies good teaching rather than replacing it.
Addressing the Cheating Epidemic
The Reality of AI Misuse
Khan confronts the elephant in the room: widespread use of large language models like ChatGPT for academic dishonesty. His informal surveys reveal that college students are universally using AI to write papers, with ChatGPT making cheating “painfully low friction.”
Rethinking Assessment and Assignments
Rather than simply banning AI, Khan advocates for a fundamental shift in how educators approach assignments:
- In-class, proctored work for assessing genuine understanding and thought organization
- AI-collaborative assignments that teach students to work effectively with these tools
- Real-world projects that go beyond writing—starting businesses, conducting research, implementing solutions
Khan Academy has developed Khanmigo, an AI tool that provides transparency to teachers about student interactions, allowing for guided AI use rather than blanket prohibition.
Alternative Education Models: The Alpha School Approach
Accelerated Learning Through AI
Khan discusses Alpha Schools, which claim to achieve 10x learning acceleration through a compressed 2-hour academic curriculum supplemented by Khan Academy tools. While Khan is measured about the “10x” claim, he notes that their own research shows:
- 30-40% acceleration for students engaged 60 minutes per week
- 2-3 grade levels per year progress at Khan Lab School and Khan World School
The Engagement Imperative
Khan repeatedly emphasizes that engagement remains the critical factor. No matter how sophisticated the AI tool, without student engagement, outcomes won’t improve. The Alpha School model works because it frees up time for interactive activities, Socratic dialogue, and collaborative learning.
Personalization vs. Resilience: Finding the Balance
The Marvel-Basketball Reader Example
Khan addresses a thoughtful question about whether extreme personalization (like AI-generated stories combining Marvel characters and basketball to engage reluctant readers) might undermine students’ ability to tackle challenging, less immediately appealing content.
His nuanced response acknowledges that students need to develop resilience and “take their medicine” occasionally, but argues against being “super parochial” about learning methods. He points out that adults increasingly use AI to process dense information more efficiently, suggesting that both approaches have value.
Analog Hours and Digital Balance
Notably, Khan reveals that Khan Lab School, despite being founded by a technology advocate, maintains strict boundaries around device use:
- No personal phones allowed
- Mandatory “analog hours” where students must engage without computers
- Structured boredom that encourages drawing, reading, and board games
This approach reflects Khan’s understanding that effective AI integration requires intentional limits and human-centered learning experiences.
Future Vision and Scaling of AI Classroom
Historical Context and Future Potential
Khan compares AI-powered education to the historical origins of learning: “You could imagine that if young Alexander was having difficulty with some topic, that Aristotle would slow down or speed up, or make sure that this young man who’s going to be a future king or emperor is engaged in his learning”.
Khan’s vision extends beyond current capabilities: “We can use the same tools to treat every kid like a future emperor”.
Research-Backed Approach
Khan Academy’s approach addresses two fundamental classroom challenges: students at different skill levels and the need for individualized instruction in classes of 30+ students. The organization’s efficacy studies demonstrate that students who spend 30+ minutes per week on Khan Academy achieve approximately 20% higher-than-expected learning gains.
Key Takeaways
- Teachers are irreplaceable: AI tools amplify good teaching but cannot substitute for human engagement, accountability, and emotional support.
- Implementation matters more than technology: Successful AI integration requires investment in teacher training, systematic support, and data-driven accountability.
- Engagement drives outcomes: Even the most sophisticated AI tools fail without student engagement facilitated by effective teachers.
- Rethink assessment, don’t ban AI: Rather than fighting AI, educators should redesign assignments to either assess genuine understanding or teach effective AI collaboration.
- Balance personalization with resilience: While AI can make learning more engaging through personalization, students still need to develop the ability to engage with challenging, less immediately appealing content.
- Systematic support creates success: Districts like Newark show that celebrating effective teachers while supporting struggling ones creates district-wide improvement.
- Teacher-Centric Design: Khanmigo functions as a co-teacher, providing 24/7 support and adapting to educator needs while reducing administrative burdens
- Proven Results: Real-world implementations show dramatic improvements, including zero failing students in previously challenging subjects
- Comprehensive Support: District partnerships provide dedicated management, customized training, and ongoing strategy support
- Safety First: Robust moderation systems and transparency features ensure appropriate AI use while maintaining educational integrity
- Accessibility: Partnerships with major technology companies are expanding free access to AI educational tools for all educators
Conclusion
Salman Khan’s perspective offers a pragmatic roadmap for AI integration in education that neither dismisses the technology’s potential nor ignores its challenges. His emphasis on teacher-centered implementation reflects hard-won insights from Khan Academy’s extensive real-world experience. The message is clear: AI in education isn’t about replacing human connections but enhancing them through tools that free teachers to focus on what they do best—inspiring, engaging, and supporting student growth.
As Khan outlined in his broader vision, AI has the potential to provide every student with a personal tutor, but this interview makes clear that the classroom teacher remains the conductor of this educational orchestra.
Khan Academy’s implementation of AI in classrooms through Khanmigo represents the most comprehensive and thoughtfully designed educational AI system currently available. By maintaining focus on learning outcomes over profit, providing extensive teacher support, and ensuring student safety, Khan Academy has created a model for responsible AI integration that enhances rather than replaces human instruction.
As Khan Academy’s annual report emphasizes, their goal is to ensure “AI benefits are equally shared” to “improve learning outcomes for all students while supporting more human-to-human interaction in classrooms”. This vision, combined with proven results and continuous innovation, positions Khan Academy as the definitive leader in classroom AI implementation.
The success stories from districts like Newark and Oklahoma demonstrate that when properly implemented with adequate teacher support and training, AI can indeed transform educational outcomes while preserving the essential human elements that make great teaching possible.
