A Manifesto for a Pro-Actively Responsible AI in Education

Education is a critical testing ground for responsible AI: The paper argues that AIED (AI in Education) offers unique opportunities to develop and test responsible AI practices before deployment in higher-stakes domains, positioning educational settings as essential laboratories for advancing broader AI ethics and policy.

Current AIED practices are fragmented and underutilized: The authors identify significant gaps in the field, describing AIED as operating at a "cottage industry" level rather than as a coordinated discipline, meaning the educational AI community is not yet systematically sharing lessons that could benefit responsible AI development more broadly.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential but missing: The manifesto calls for enhanced collaboration across disciplines (education, computer science, ethics, social sciences), suggesting that responsible AI in education requires perspectives beyond technical expertise alone to address human and societal impacts.

AI's impact on human development needs deeper understanding: The paper emphasizes the need for a "broadened understanding of AI's impact on human functioning," indicating that responsible AI in education must consider not just academic outcomes but how AI shapes learning, cognition, and human development across diverse populations.

Human-centered innovation must be the priority: Rather than technology-first approaches, the manifesto advocates for "human-centred educational innovations," suggesting that responsible AI systems should be designed around genuine human needs and equitable access across different societal segments.