AI in education & recruitment must support, not replace, humans

Leaders across education and recruitment are highlighting the importance of human engagement and ethical judgement in the age of artificial intelligence, coinciding with this year's AI Appreciation Day. Their remarks reflect an urgent global conversation about maintaining a balance between technological advancement and the core values of human agency within vital sectors such as education and employment.

Mr Siva Balakrishnan, Founder and CEO of Vserve, marked the occasion by addressing AI's transformative impact on education. He asserted, "On AI Appreciation Day 2025, we celebrate AI's power to transform education while safeguarding human agency. AI should elevate educators' creativity and judgment, not replace them."

Mr Balakrishnan advocated for a harmonious integration, stating, "By blending smart automation with empathetic teaching, we can use AI to scale learning without diminishing our human essence. Our goal must be to empower people to direct technology, ensuring classrooms where technology amplifies human insight and values."

His comments reinforce a growing belief among education technologists and pedagogical experts that AI, while capable of automating administrative tasks and personalising learning, must be deployed so as to augment, rather than overshadow, the crucial role of teachers. The focus, Mr Balakrishnan emphasised, remains on cultivating environments where human insight, compassion, and ethical decision-making are amplified by technology rather than replaced by it.

Echoing these sentiments, Mr Praveen Joshi, Managing Director and Founding Member of RSK Business Solutions, underscored the imperative of protecting individual autonomy as automation expands its influence. "In an age where AI transforms education and automation becomes pervasive, safeguarding human agency is vital. Technology must support, not supplant our ability to choose, create, and connect," he explained.

"As machines reshape learning, it is up to us to ensure they amplify our humanity rather than diminish it, keeping compassion, creativity, and ethical judgement at the forefront."

Industry analysts note that as education systems worldwide increasingly turn to artificial intelligence for adaptive learning and efficiency improvements, debates persist regarding transparency, accountability, and the preservation of essential human qualities. The comments by Mr Balakrishnan and Mr Joshi stress a need for critical policy development to ensure that schools and institutions use AI responsibly, setting boundaries that preserve educators' unique abilities and responsibilities.

On the recruitment front, Joel Delmaire, AI leader and Chief Product Officer at Jobadder, has gathered perspectives from leading Australian recruiters considering the disruptive role AI is playing in their industry. Delmaire's discussions with sector professionals sought to illuminate both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for talent acquisition and workforce management, as recruiters and employers increasingly turn to automation for candidate screening, shortlisting, and engagement.

Recruiters contacted for Delmaire's report were broadly optimistic about AI's role in streamlining repetitive tasks, such as parsing CVs, scheduling interviews, and improving the match between candidate skills and job requirements. However, several stressed that AI, if left unchecked, risks inadvertently introducing bias or missing out on the intangible qualities - such as emotional intelligence, adaptability, and teamwork - that human recruiters are best placed to detect. There is a growing call for ongoing human oversight and regular audits of AI-powered recruitment tools, to ensure fairness and uphold the principles of diversity and inclusion.

As sectors including education and recruitment undergo rapid evolution under AI's influence, the voices of industry leaders and practitioners emphasise the importance of keeping human values at the centre of technological progress. Their perspectives reinforce that AI's greatest potential may not lie in replacing human roles, but in serving as a powerful ally - supporting creativity, upholding ethical standards, and ensuring that core human skills continue to define excellence in both classrooms and workplaces.