Let's start with a simple premise:

AI is already better at teaching most subjects than most teachers.

And it's only getting better.

The argument for keeping school as we know it — rows of desks, one-size-fits-all pacing, lectures delivered at a human speed — doesn't hold up under even moderate scrutiny.

Aside from the social functions (which do matter, especially at younger ages), there's no educational reason school should still look the way it does.

Education is about to break open. In many cases, it already is.

The present of learning is:

  • Personalized
  • AI-powered
  • Multi-format (video, text, audio, quizzes, projects)
  • Self-paced
  • Guided by humans, but not delivered by them

What does this mean for teachers at the primary and secondary school level? Well, they won't need to be subject-matter experts anymore. The AI is the expert. The teacher's role should shift accordingly. They'll be coaches, mentors, and disciplinarians — focused on helping students stay on track.

The tools are here. AI tools are already better explainers than most textbooks. AI can teach lessons, create quizzes, adapt, push, and re-teach instantly. A student can't fall behind if the learning goes at their speed. And they won't be held back by the speed of the class either.

Students will learn faster. They'll write more. They'll think more and be more creative too (assuming we don't let them offload everything to AI).

And here's where it ties to software

If this is what the next generation expects from education —

Why would they expect anything less from the products they use?

Said differently, education and training used to be the thing you did after you built a product. Now, it needs to be the thing you build WITH the product.

If school can give students personalized learning paths, AI tutors that explain in different styles, on-demand feedback, real-time assessments, and always-on support — then why would they tolerate clunky onboarding, static documentation in the form of long help docs, or a contact us form buried three menus deep?

Smart products will become self-teaching

Software companies that win in this new environment will design their products to teach by doing:

  • Built-in onboarding that adapts to the user's goals
  • Conversational, embedded AI agents that guide in real time
  • Quizzes, walkthroughs, and contextual nudges — not walls of text
  • Feedback loops that show users what they've learned or improved

Docs alone aren't enough. To succeed, companies need to think more in terms of a learning system, not just a bolt-on help center.

The takeaway: train your users, or someone else will

In a world where users are trained by AI in school, they won't accept less from their tools.

And if your product doesn't teach them how to succeed, someone else's product — or someone's AI assistant — will do it for you.

So yes, AI is going to change education, but it's also going to change UX, product design, onboarding, and support. It already is.

The best products will teach and will be designed for continuous learning.