Estonia launches AI Leap program to teach students through Socratic ChatGPT

Estonia has introduced the AI Leap initiative, a pedagogical experiment that equips students with a Socratic‑style version of ChatGPT. The goal is to encourage deeper, self‑directed thinking by prompting learners to formulate their own conclusions rather than receiving direct answers. The programme is portrayed as a potential breakthrough in education, though some see it as a risky experiment that could influence decision‑making beyond the classroom.

The concept is illustrated with a domestic scenario in which the AI’s Socratic questioning leads a couple to rationalise a purchase as their own autonomous decision, highlighting both the method’s persuasive power and the ethical questions it raises.