GEMS Education, the largest private school group in the United Arab Emirates, is set to introduce AI-driven digital avatars of its teachers to enhance student learning beyond traditional school hours. The initiative aims to create personalised AI-powered digital personas based on the subject expertise of GEMS educators, providing students with access to tailored support and approved learning content in multiple languages.
This new approach seeks to augment the role of teachers, not replace them, according to the group. The AI avatars will offer personalised guidance aligned with the individual learning needs of students, extending educational support outside the classroom and after school hours.
The rollout will begin at the GEMS School of Research & Innovation (SRI), where the GEMS Global Education AI Hub and the GEMS Intelligence 360 platform will serve as pilot environments. These platforms will facilitate collaboration among teachers, students, and partner organisations to co-design, test, and evaluate the effectiveness and usability of the AI avatars before a broader implementation.
Initial applications of the technology will include digitalising instructors, developing gamified learning tools, employing AI for content creation assistance, and conducting classroom simulations. The programme includes embedded safety measures and protocols to maintain human oversight and allow staff to intervene whenever necessary.
GEMS plans to expand this AI-powered education model across its network of schools throughout the Middle East and beyond, targeting a wider-scale deployment by the end of 2026. This initiative represents a significant shift from earlier regional efforts to integrate AI into education, which have largely been limited to individual schools or departments.
The development aligns with a wider regional movement towards formalising and integrating artificial intelligence in educational settings, reflecting the growing emphasis on technology-driven learning solutions in the Gulf and surrounding areas.