Is Khan Academy the new OpenAI for education?

Hi AI Futurists,

Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, just gave an incredible interview where he revealed that kids are using AI to learn quantum physic with help from Khanmigo, their GPT-powered tutor. Hype or real? Let’s take a look.

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Top AI news

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🛠️ Amazon robot model piece — duplicate link cleaned
Yes, a million bots again—because it’s huge.

Can AI help middle schoolers learn quantum physics?

Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, is seeing something most teachers never expected: middle schoolers exploring quantum mechanics thanks to AI. In his interview on Meet the Press, he explained how Khan Academy’s GPT-4-based tutor, Khanmigo, is helping kids learn far beyond grade level. The AI doesn’t hand out answers—it walks students through problems with back-and-forth dialogue modeled after the Socratic method, turning AI into a personal tutor that adapts to each learner in real time.

But with that power comes risk. “It’s a knife—it can cook your dinner or stab you,” Khan said, highlighting the dangers of cheating, misinformation, and overdependence. He emphasized the need for strong design principles and clear boundaries to prevent AI from amplifying the worst parts of education systems. Without thoughtful oversight, Khan believes these tools could widen achievement gaps instead of closing them.

Even so, he sees enormous potential. Khanmigo could ease pressure on overworked teachers, offer high-quality help to under-resourced schools, and change how students everywhere engage with complex ideas. Watch the full conversation and you’ll see a vision of education where access isn’t just about schools—but about who has the tools to think critically and push their own limits.

Takeaways at a Glance:

• Khanmigo is a GPT-4-powered AI tutor trained on Khan Academy’s curriculum

• It uses the Socratic method to promote deeper learning, not just answers

• Students as young as 12 are learning quantum physics with its help

• Risks include cheating, misinformation, and overdependence on AI

• Khan calls for urgent ethical design, transparency, and policy to guide its use

• Potential upside: scalable tutoring, teacher support, and personalized learning

What We Think About It:

• This is one of the clearest examples yet of AI moving from hype to reality. It’s not just writing papers or summarizing articles, it’s teaching. Khanmigo shows how AI can encourage deeper thinking instead of shortcuts, if we design it with care. It’s a reminder that good AI isn't just about power, it’s about purpose.

What You Can Do Right Now:

• Try it yourself – Khanmigo is available through Khan Academy. Use it or watch a demo to see what future classrooms might look like or if you have children explore what Khanmigo has to offer for their education.

• Ask the deeper question – Next time you use ChatGPT or another AI, pay attention to how it helps you think. Are you using it as a tutor—or just an answer machine?

Get more done with these AI tools

FunBlocks AIFlow

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SEO Content Lead

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Chronicle

Chronicle combines AI with taste to help you go from raw thoughts to polished presentations. Designed for serious work: Start with templates, create with AI workflows, and collaborate with your team to shape your ideas into impactful narratives.

AI in the wild

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