My recent work has very much deepened my understanding of just how much is happening at the intersection of AI and education — particularly in global contexts.
That experience inspired me to start curating weekly updates to help others make sense of the rapid developments in this space. There’s a lot of noise, and my goal is to surface what’s most relevant, actionable, or thought-provoking.
Here’s what stood out this week.
AI in Education updates from Africa: The AI Talent Readiness Index
The AI Talent Readiness Index is a specialized framework designed to evaluate a country’s or region’s capacity to cultivate, retain, and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) talent. It serves as a diagnostic tool for policymakers, educational institutions, and industry stakeholders to identify strengths and address gaps in AI talent development.
The Index typically assesses readiness across three primary pillars:
- Digital readiness
- Data and infrastructure
- Government readiness
South Africa recently topped the continent with a score of 52.15 in the 2025 AI Talent Readiness Index, followed closely by Tunisia and Egypt at 51.80, driven by strong digital skills and infrastructure. Read more at https://www.ecofinagency.com/news/2105-46924-south-africa-tunisia-and-egypt-lead-africa-in-ai-talent-readiness-for-2025.
AI in Education updates from Asia: AI-powered digital textbooks
South Korea has embarked on a significant educational reform by integrating AI-powered digital textbooks into its public education system, starting in March 2025. In the mist recent report, nearly one-third of primary and secondary schools in South Korea have adopted AI-driven digital textbooks in English and mathematics, with the government showcasing this shift at the recent APEC Education Ministers’ Summit. Read more at https://yourstory.com/2025/05/south-korea-ai-textbooks-education-reform.
AI in Education updates from Latin America: Brookings outlines essential steps
In a recent article from Brookings, the authors suggest that rather than adopting AI regulatory frameworks from the Global North wholesale, tailoring regulations to the specific needs and conditions of Latin American countries (including considering local technological capacities, societal values, and economic structures) could better ensure that AI governance is both effective and equitable.
Brookings outlines essential steps (such as multi-stakeholder dialogue, adaptive governance frameworks, and regional cooperation) to ensure inclusive, forward-looking AI policy across Latin America. Read more https://www.brookings.edu/articles/smart-ai-regulation-strategies-for-latin-american-policymakers.
AI in Education updates from the United States: AI-specific laws
With few new AI-specific laws passed, state attorneys general in California, Colorado, and Utah are using existing consumer-protection and privacy statutes to address potential harms from generative AI tools. This approach allows for immediate regulatory action without waiting for new legislation. For instance, AGs are scrutinizing how AI systems handle personal identifying information, potentially facilitate fraud (e.g., through deepfakes), and may result in biased or discriminatory decision-making processes.
For AI innovators, this highlights the importance of staying abreast of state-level regulations and ensuring that AI applications are developed and deployed responsibly to mitigate legal risks. Read more https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/state-ags-fill-ai-regulatory-void-2025-05-19/
Remember that the future of education is being shaped now and we need more voices that are informed, thoughtful, and equity-driven. Subscribe to Jody’s newsletter to get weekly updates delivered right to your in-box
