Think back to some of your most meaningful learning experiences. Chances are, you weren’t learning in isolation. Maybe it was a teacher who inspired you, a group project where your classmates stretched your thinking, or a mentor at work who guided you through a real challenge. The truth is, our deepest learning happens in relationship.
AI offers incredible opportunities in education. It can generate ideas, adapt lessons, and even simulate conversations that feel realistic. But as educators, we must help students recognize an essential truth: a digital tool is not a substitute for a human relationship and a prompt is not the same as a conversation. In fact, no matter how advanced AI becomes, it cannot replace the growth, vulnerability, and depth that come from engaging in relationships with other human beings.
Why Relationships Are Central to Learning
As Christians, we believe that God created us in His image, and He is relational. The Trinity itself is a picture of deep connection—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in perfect unity. Because we are made in His image, we are also created for relationship: with God, with others, and with an honest understanding of ourselves. If we were made for relationship, then relationships should be a vital part of our growth and learning throughout life. Education, then, is not just about information; it is about formation. It is about shaping character, cultivating wisdom, and learning how to navigate real human dynamics. At its core, learning is relational—we are meant to be known by God and by others who bear His image.
Yes, shortcuts are tempting. It’s easier to let AI generate an answer instead of wrestling through a challenging problem. Sometimes it’s easier to work alone with a tool that does not have feelings than to navigate the complexities of a team. But education at its best pushes us into those places where we grow through feedback, differing viewpoints, and even conflict. That process, even though sometimes uncomfortable, is what builds critical thinking, empathy, and resilience.
What AI Cannot Give
AI can provide information, but it does not have a soul. It can mimic perspectives, but it does not bring lived wisdom, cultural depth, or spiritual discernment to the table. It cannot truly challenge us in love, extend grace, or celebrate with us when we overcome obstacles. Those things come only from human relationships.
As schools dream about the ways AI might revolutionize education, and there are many, it is vital that we keep prioritize the value of relationships in the education and formation of our students. AI can be a powerful tool, but it must remain just that: a tool. The heartbeat of education is still the connection between teachers and students, peers learning together, and communities that nurture growth.
Our Call as Educators
At NorthStar Academy, we believe students need human relationships, teachers need human relationships, and our world desperately needs communities that value and nurture real connection. As we explore the benefits of AI, we will continue to hold fast to this truth: education is most transformative when it happens in relationship.
In our next post, we’ll look at how parents can engage their students in meaningful conversations about AI, learning, and relationships.
This AI series is written by Katie Ahmadzai. Katie is a school leader with over 20 years of experience in U.S., international, and online schools, including 12 years with NorthStar Academy. She is committed to creating engaging learning communities that foster student flourishing and reflect the Kingdom, using technology and innovation as tools to advance these goals.