Professor Ziad Mahayni warns AI could reshape education in Germany

Prof. Dr. Ziad Mahayni, a professor of applied ethics at Karlsruhe, argues that generative artificial intelligence should not be seen merely as a tool but as a meta‑technology that transforms human agency and self‑understanding. He warns that this shift will profoundly affect what is taught, how teaching and learning occur, and who decides the content of education. Mahayni stresses that commercial and political interests have driven the rapid market deployment of AI applications that exploit human convenience and laziness, potentially undermining critical thinking. He calls on educators, students, parents and policymakers to scrutinise the ethical implications of AI in schools and to seek alternatives that preserve autonomous learning.

The position paper and related interview stress the need for a broader societal debate on AI’s role in education, rather than uncritical adoption of commercially driven tools.