CoSN 2025 Takeaways, Part 3: Navigating AI Opportunities and Risks

Kevin Kiley, President of Airia, who was at the show introducing Brainfreeze, an AI Platform for Education, thinks we’re at the end of AI’s hype cycle—and that’s a good thing. He emphasizes that AI adoption in schools is inevitable and accelerating, with districts currently facing a critical window to implement proper governance, security measures, and policies. Kevin highlights both the transformative potential of AI to personalize learning and reduce administrative burdens and significant risks related to student privacy, inappropriate use, and mental health concerns. 

Key Takeaways:

• Many schools already have 5-10 AI applications in use (some sanctioned, many not), with experts predicting an “explosion” to 25-50 applications in the near future
• Education leaders must prioritize establishing security guardrails and governance policies now, before widespread uncontrolled adoption makes it “difficult to dig out of the hole”
• AI offers significant benefits for personalizing education, including:
  • Creating tailored learning experiences for students
  • Reducing teachers’ administrative workload
  • Dynamically generating content, labs, and assessments
  • Helping educators process large volumes of information
• Notable risks include inadequate protection in AI applications, lack of monitoring for inappropriate student use, and potential mental health concerns
• A balanced approach is needed that implements necessary controls without impeding innovation