The Rise of AI Learning Assistants: What CIOs Need to Know

By Virginia Fletcher, CIO

As we operationalize AI across our enterprise, from internal efficiency gains to new customer-facing products, one domain that’s rapidly evolving and rich with opportunity is education. AI-powered learning assistants are no longer theoretical. They're here, intelligent, and already transforming how learners engage with knowledge.

Two recent developments stand out: Google’s LearnLM, part of its Gemini model family, and OpenAI’s experimental Study Together feature. Both signal a new era of pedagogically aware AI models that don’t just answer questions, but teach, adapt, and challenge learners.

LearnLM: Google’s Pedagogical Powerhouse

Google’s LearnLM is a family of models fine-tuned for education.  What sets it apart is its foundation in learning science. It’s built to support:

• Active learning

• Cognitive load management

• Adaptive instruction

• Curiosity stimulation

• Metacognitive reflection

  
  

Already embedded across Google products, LearnLM enhances experiences like solving math problems from screenshots, creating real-time quizzes from lecture videos, and offering step-by-step tutoring.

Gemini 2.5 Pro with LearnLM has outperformed competitors like GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 on pedagogy in recent evaluations. It’s also being piloted in classrooms with educators from Columbia Teachers College and Khan Academy, validating its real-world relevance.

Study Together: OpenAI’s Next Tutoring Leap

OpenAI is quietly testing a new ChatGPT feature called “Study Together.” Rather than just answering questions, it prompts the learner with clarifying questions, step-by-step guidance and adaptive assessments.

It’s built around scaffolding, an instructional method where the AI supports critical thinking rather than giving away answers. Though still in testing, the name hints at a potential for collaborative learning experiences, where students could study together with AI as a facilitator.

This reflects a shift from AI as content explainer to AI as learning coach.

Why This Matters for CIOs

These AI learning assistants offer a glimpse into a broader trend: the convergence of AI, UX, and education theory. As CIOs, we need to understand this space not only for internal training and upskilling but also for product and partnership strategy if we touch the education, certification, or workforce sectors.

The best of these tools:

• Are multi-modal (understand text, images, and video)

• Provide personalized pathways based on skill level

• Incorporate feedback loops and reflective questions

• Integrate seamlessly into platforms learners already use

  
  

Impact on EdTech Providers

K–12 Education

AI learning assistants hold significant promise in K–12 settings by supporting educators and addressing equity gaps. These tools can serve as teacher augmentation, helping instructors manage repetitive tasks such as quiz creation, content explanation, or providing feedback, freeing up time for deeper, more personalized instruction. 

Just as importantly, AI-powered tutors can expand equity by offering low-cost, scalable support to underserved students who may lack access to traditional tutoring services. However, this potential must be implemented carefully to ensure it doesn't exacerbate existing digital divides. 

Another critical challenge is curriculum alignment. For AI assistants to be effective at scale in classrooms, their instruction must be tightly mapped to academic standards, such as Common Core, ensuring consistency with district goals and state requirements.

Higher Education

In higher ed, AI learning assistants are emerging as powerful tools for supplemental instruction, offering students 24/7 support that can either replace or complement traditional teaching assistants. This availability transforms the way students seek help, potentially disrupting office hours by absorbing a significant share of routine questions. 

As AI becomes a more embedded presence in learning, institutions must also grapple with academic integrity. With tools capable of explaining, coaching, and even helping students reason through complex topics, colleges and universities will need to rethink assessment design to ensure rigor and fairness in an AI-augmented academic environment.

Certification & Test Prep

The world of certification and standardized testing is also being reshaped by AI. These assistants enable practice-as-a-service, delivering real-time coaching, adaptive quizzes, and scenario-based simulations that evolve with the learner's progress. This level of personalization, traditionally available only through expensive one-on-one coaching, can now be scaled globally at a fraction of the cost. AI’s ability to track performance and customize preparation journeys offers a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded testing marketplace.

Career & Workforce Learning

In the workforce learning space, AI is accelerating the shift to on-demand skilling. Whether employees need to learn a new programming language, compliance process, or soft skill, AI tutors provide interactive, just-in-time support tailored to their roles and goals. 

These experiences are increasingly integrated into learning portfolios that track skills, assessments, certifications, and progress toward job readiness. As a result, corporate learning and development (L&D) is undergoing disruption. Traditional LMS-based training with static modules is giving way to dynamic, AI-powered learning journeys that are conversational, responsive, and context-aware.

What Comes Next?

AI is no longer just a knowledge engine. It’s becoming a learning companion. That distinction is critical for CIOs tasked with enabling transformation whether in the classroom, the corporate boardroom, for lifelong learning products or for our own teams.

We’re entering an era where AI isn’t just something we build with. It’s something we learn with and those who recognize the difference will be best positioned to lead.

Stay curious, stay adaptive. The AI tutors are already here and they’re getting better every day.