As AI tool use spreads in classrooms, institutions must safeguard human presence by embedding empathy into AI systems, empowering educators as emotional anchors, and designing hybrid models that sustain connection, argues Michael Edmondson (New Jersey Institute of Technology). Citing research on emotionally intelligent AI that can detect stress and respond with supportive feedback, Edmondson argues that over-reliance on automation risks eroding student agency and calls for intentional design to ensure technology amplifies, rather than replaces, human presence in learning. “By embedding empathy into AI systems, empowering educators as emotional anchors, and developing hybrid models centered on authentic connection, institutions ensure AI amplifies rather than replaces the essential human dimension of education,” Edmondson concludes.
