Teachers Will Lead the Future of Work: Equipping Minds for the Age of AI

Teachers are the backbone of our future. Yet, the journey of being a teacher is fraught with challenges. From underfunding to overwhelming workloads, and the feeling that their hard work often goes unrecognized, teachers face numerous hurdles. Now, with the rise of AI, there's a new challenge on the horizon, raising concerns about the future of education.
 
Despite these obstacles, growth is impossible without educators. Whether they teach through online courses, videos, at home, or in the classroom, teachers are essential for students to acquire the digital skills needed to succeed. This is especially true for historically disconnected youth and adults who are upskilling or reskilling.
 
AI is creating new job opportunities and changing the future of work. It also has the potential to democratize education, narrow the digital skills gap, and make high-quality learning accessible to all, regardless of location or socioeconomic status. However, while AI can transform and support education, it can’t substitute for human interaction.
 
“At HP, we believe that AI can never replace teachers,” said Michele Malejki, HP Global Head of Social Impact and Director, HP Foundation. “Teaching is a deeply human activity, rooted in empathy, inspiration, and the unique connection between educator and student. Instead of viewing AI as a threat, we see it as a tool that can empower teachers to better equip youth for tomorrow’s workforce.” 
 
Expanding digital skills-building is crucial to strengthening the global economy and workforce which is why HP is committed to accelerating digital equity for 150 million people by 2030. AI can better support these education efforts, but only if accompanied by digital literacy to effectively use it. According to OECD, 20% of secondary teachers feel undertrained in digital education tools, including AI, despite 60% receiving training the previous year. Now is the time to invest in upskilling our teachers.
 
HP Believes AI Can Help Close the Digital Skills Gap
 
Data from HP and Oxford Economics shows that 76% of leaders believe technology helps traditionally excluded populations join the economy. While many new technologies are adopted first in our personal lives, AI adoption will likely first happen in the workplace. As AI becomes more common in workplaces, access to digital tools and education will be crucial.
 
Reskilling educators with AI and digital skills is essential for preparing future generations. That’s why we created HP AI Teacher Academy to help educators understand and use generative AI in education. Participants gain both conceptual knowledge and practical skills, from composing effective prompts to integrating AI into lesson planning and instructional materials. The program also emphasizes ethical and social considerations, ensuring responsible AI use in the classroom. 
 
AI can adapt educational content to each student's needs, enabling personalized learning, from teachers adjusting the difficulty of a reading passage by simplifying vocabulary, to real-time translation and more. Teachers can then provide more individualized attention, helping students grow and become more fluent with digital skills. HP believes AI will help employees offload mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on meaningful work.
 
“We must do more about the global teacher retention crisis. The world faces a shortage of teachers with UNESCO estimating 44 million more are needed by 2030,” said Charles Radman, HP Global Head of Education. “We see AI as an ally for teachers, not a replacement. It can reduce teacher workload, handling repetitive administrative tasks and automations like skills assessment and grading so educators can spend more time focusing on students.”
 
With our experience in technology and education, HP is uniquely positioned to provide digital skill education to teachers and learners alike. Empowering teachers to effectively use AI enhances their efficiency and ensures students gain the AI knowledge and skills they need to thrive in future careers.
 
Investments in education have enormous potential: according to the World Bank, every dollar invested in an additional year of education can yield up to a 10% return. That’s why HP is building strategic partnerships to equip educators and learners with essential AI skills and technology. We're committed to providing the tools, support, and resources necessary to make this vision a reality. 
 
If technology is the toolbox, AI is the power drill: it accelerates, simplifies, and opens new learning and teaching possibilities. With more technology integrated into classrooms and increasingly tech-savvy teachers becoming the norm, now is the time to accelerate the transformative potential of AI in digital skills.
 
To further teacher training, we support organizations like 1 Million Teachers (1MT) who are working to combat the global teacher shortage, especially the 15 million more needed in sub-Saharan Africa alone. By supporting 1MT’s efforts to train teachers in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, we help empower teachers with important digital skills, including AI.
 
Addressing the security challenges of AI early and directly will also foster a safer learning environment. In our AI Teacher Academy, we equip educators with essential skills to understand and evaluate generative AI systems, emphasizing ethics like privacy protection, bias awareness, and responsible data handling. Combined with an understanding of how to detect threats and misinformation, teachers will need a sophisticated awareness of how to navigate AI, just like any new technology. Teachers are already identifying bad actors with AI-enabled devices with advanced security features, such as deepfake detection tools, as well as the industry-leading protection available in our advanced portfolio of AI PCs.
 
Upskilling Learners to Shape the Future of Work 
 
As AI transforms industries, everyone from executives to interns must learn new technologies to unlock value. In collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), HP LIFE launched "AI for Beginners," a course providing foundational AI knowledge. By leveraging expertise from HP and UNIDO, we aim to make AI education accessible globally, ensuring diverse participation in the AI-driven economy.
 
HP LIFE's courses, including this one, offer in-demand skills and core business concepts. With 1.6 million learners already benefiting, the program from the HP Foundation helps individuals innovate and adapt to evolving economic landscapes.
 
The future of work is being shaped today, with teachers at the forefront. As AI redefines required skills, educators and learners must adapt. We believe AI tools can empower teachers to unlock students' potential and close the digital skills gap.
HP is committed to delivering AI-driven solutions and promoting digital equity. By engaging teachers with advanced tools and providing students and entrepreneurs with AI skills, we foster innovation and economic growth. AI enhances education, allowing teachers to inspire students. With thoughtful AI integration, we can accelerate digital equity and help everyone thrive in a more inclusive global economy.