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AI Leap 2025: Estonia Sets Global Benchmark for AI Integration in Education

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AI Leap 2025: Estonia Sets Global Benchmark for AI Integration in Education

10.05.2025

Estonia is preparing to take a major step forward in education with the launch of its AI Leap 2025 initiative, a program aimed at integrating advanced artificial intelligence tools into classrooms across the country. The initiative will equip both students and teachers with access to AI-powered educational technologies, along with training on how to use them effectively during the learning process. 

Beginning this autumn, the program will reach its first phase, targeting 20,000 high school students in grades 10 and 11, while 3,000 teachers will receive specialized instructions in AI applications. Later, the initiative will be expanded to more high school students and vocational institutions.

The concept behind AI Leap 2025 draws inspiration from Estonia’s groundbreaking Tiger Leap project of the 1990s, which brought internet connectivity and computers to every school, laying the foundation for country’s success in the digital sector. With AI Leap, policymakers aim to ensure that Estonian youth are well-versed in AI, positioning the nation as a leader in digital innovation.

The program is being already developed through a public-private partnership with major AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic. The program is open to collaboration with any and all partners who meet their needs and have useful solutions to offer. Partners will be engaged in co-creation of the curriculum, workshops, and solutions. 

In a recent interview with the e-Estonia Briefing Centre, Siim Sikkut, a member of Estonian President Alar Karis’s Digital Council, a managing partner in Digital Nation, and a core figure behind the launch of AI Leap, shared insights into the program’s vision.

On question “What is the background of the AI Leap program?” Mr. Sikkut answers: “The program’s context is the realisation that AI is here to stay. Using and creating AI tools is already an essential skill for productivity. Still, it will become a critical skill for remaining competitive at the personal, company, and national levels. As a country, we need to build this base skillset fast.” 

The program was initiated by Estonian President Alar Karis, who convened a roundtable of leading tech entrepreneurs in December, at which the current idea was born. President Karis assigned his Digital Council to lead the development of the initiative, in collaboration with various entrepreneurs and the Ministry of Education.

Mr. Sikkut adds that the development of the curriculum for AI Leap 2025 is being led by Estonia’s Ministry of Education and Research, with the support of diverse working groups that include teachers, students, academics, business representatives, and other community stakeholders. They will start by defining the target competencies for skilling and then move on to the creation of specific curricula, learning tools, relevant training programs, etc.. While the full content of the learning process is still being finalized, the initiative is designed to be dynamic and adaptive, not a one-time effort. AI Leap is intentionally structured as an experimental, evolving program that will help identify the most effective ways to incorporate AI into education. 

The first phase will begin in autumn 2025 with initial training for teachers, focusing on understanding and applying AI in the classroom. Shortly after, students will gain access to the world’s best AI-powered learning applications. This training will include an overview of the use and understanding of AI technology and recommendations on personalising learning according to each student’s needs and optimising and empowering teaching. Importantly, the goal is not for AI to replace educators or traditional methods but to enhance the learning experience, empower teachers, and better prepare students for a future where AI is an integral part of everyday life and work.

While speaking about the long-term goal of the AI Leap 2025, Mr. Sikkut mentions: “The long-term goal is to maintain Estonia’s high level of education, increase Estonians’ global breakthrough ability, and smoothly integrate AI into education to ensure the best possible learning. We want to make teaching more efficient, personalised, diverse, and inclusive. We also want to reduce the digital technology divide and prevent a new divide between those who are AI savvy and those who are not.”

As for each innovation, there is a dose of skepticism for AI Leap 2025. Mr. Sikkut  explains that the initiative won’t negatively impact the education and learning process because AI is already part of students’ lives but without structured integration into education. So it is better to incorporate AI into education in the most effective, organised and systematic way, rather than leave it to chance, which can lead to more negative results. Together with that, it’s vital for the program to ensure that every student has an equal access to AI resources and evenly benefits from it, since not everyone has or can afford AI applications. Concerns about excessive screen time and smartphone dependency are also acknowledged – but AI Leap is not about increasing device use, it’s about changing its purpose. The goal is to shift smart device use from passive consumption and entertainment to active learning and skill development. 

Estonia is positioning itself as a global pioneer by being among the first nations to implement AI integration across its entire education system – not just in select schools or regions but nationwide. By launching AI Leap 2025, Estonia not only aims to enhance its own educational outcomes but also hopes to serve as a model for other countries. The nation is committed to sharing its experiences and insights, helping others learn from its journey.

Details

Website

www.e-estonia.com

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Education

Study states that AI optimizes labor: over 120 hours of annual savings for employees

By NEWSNo Comments
Study states that AI optimizes labor: over 120 hours of annual savings for employees

03.05.2025

If the UK invests in training its workforce to use AI, its economy could grow by up to £400 billion ($533 billion). That’s according to a new report from Google based on the results of pilot projects related to the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in British businesses. 

According to the data, employees could save an average of more than 120 hours a year thanks to the use of AI in administrative tasks. This is possible through a short induction training and formal approval from the employer to use AI in the workflow. These simple steps will ultimately stimulate economic growth.  

The US tech giant, which developed the Gemini AI chatbot, says that according to analysis produced in conjunction with research company Public First, nearly two-thirds of employees – particularly older women from lower socio-economic groups – have never used generative AI in a professional context. The most common reason that deters people from bringing AI into their work is the fear that it is neither legitimate nor fair. 

“People just wanted reassurance that they were allowed to use AI in their work. Giving that ‘permission to prompt’ proved key.” said Debbie Weinstein, Google’s president for Europe, Middle East and Africa. 

The results of the pilot projects demonstrate that even short-term training boosts employee confidence and yields positive results. Google’s report noted that 3 months after the training began, 56% of women over the age of 55 had started using AI at work at least once a week – up from just 17% before, while 29% had made it a daily habit. The proportion of those applying AI daily has also increased significantly, from 9% to 29%.

Google notes that such targeted and affordable initiatives can significantly accelerate the integration of AI into professional environments and become a key driver of economic growth.

Details

Website

www.investor.bg

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Digital education

From geopolitics to classrooms: Hope in the AI race between the US and China

By NEWSNo Comments
From geopolitics to classrooms: Hope in the AI race between the US and China

30.04.2025

The race for AI, the defining competition of the 21st century, is shifting to classrooms. While Beijing and Washington fight over semiconductors and spy balloons, their quietest and most significant competition is unfolding in schools. And that’s something we need to welcome. Preparing new generations for the cognitive revolution that will define human relations with machines has far-reaching implications for human development compared to current geopolitical tensions.

AI education has gained importance with President Trump’s executive order to advance AI education for American youth. Similarly, China has mandated AI education for all elementary and middle school students, aiming to create a generation of technologically literate citizens.

China’s and the United States’ approaches to AI education share several common features. Building AI knowledge and skills is among the countries’ highest strategic and societal priorities. Curriculum development is holistic, covering mathematics, science, and ethics to improve technical skills and promote critical thinking and problem-solving abilities from students. Both countries promote partnerships with the AI industry as a direct way to access technology and bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications of AI.

The competition for leadership in AI education is promising for several reasons. First, it underscores the recognition that AI is not just a technological tool, but a transformative force that will shape the future of work, communication, and society. By prioritizing AI education, the United States and China are investing in the intellectual capital needed to thrive in an increasingly automated world.

In addition, AI can improve pedagogy and teaching methods, providing personalised learning experiences that meet individual students’ needs. From intelligent tutoring systems that adapt to a learner’s pace, to AI-based analytics that help educators identify areas for improvement, the potential for improving educational outcomes is vast. As both sides explore these opportunities, we can turn the current AI-driven education crisis into a unique pedagogical opportunity to strengthen critical thinking and creativity.
However, it is important to acknowledge the counter-argument: the fear that competition in AI could lead to conflict and isolationism. Some may worry that the race for AI supremacy could foster a culture of exclusivity, where nations hoard knowledge and resources rather than collaborate.

While these concerns are valid, we believe that the very nature of education is more prone to cooperation and healthy competition than, for example, security or economic competition. As countries seek to outdo one another, they may come to realize the value of sharing best practices, research, and resources in AI education.

This spirit prevails in education and development circles, such as Google’s engineers forcing the company not to renew its contract with the Pentagon in 2018 by rebelling against the use of their technology for military purposes, or DeepSeek’s developers favoring open source contributions to the global public good on their platform. When students in Shanghai debug code alongside their peers in Silicon Valley through open source platforms, they’re not just building algorithms – they’re building trust. Away from the spotlight, they are becoming diplomats for a new type of AI diplomacy.

While the current geopolitical landscape is not promising, the rivalry between the US and China in AI education offers a glimmer of hope that it is not just about who wins in the AI race but, more importantly, how humanity will prepare for the coming transformation of AI and coexistence with advanced technologies.

 

Details

Website

www.diplomacy.edu

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence