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As generative AI has become a fixture in conversations about the future of every industry, it has become especially ubiquitous in education. While major debate over potential concerns and criticisms about the technology’s effect on education still rages, some of the most innovative companies in education this year have found ways to give educators their time back and allow them to focus their energy on students.
MagicSchool AI has become a key resource for teachers who need to quickly develop lessons plans and dispense with admin work, while also offering enhanced safety and moderation controls to govern how students use the platform. With the AI-powered tool TrustCircleeducators can keep tabs on the mental health of their students through just a few minutes of daily self-reflection. For teachers who increasingly rely on detection tools to flag misuse of AI in essays and assignments, Pangram offers an option with a high degree of accuracy—to curb false allegations of cheating.
But it’s not just K-12 schools that have been reshaped by AI. Perhaps one of the greatest hurdles facing higher education right now is staying relevant, particularly as tuition costs soar and college graduates struggle to find employment. Coursera and Ellucian are enabling colleges and universities to play an important role in preparing workers for the AI-driven jobs of the future, by helping them retrain or finding new career pathways for displaced workers. Other companies, like Merit Americaare upskilling low-wage workers and pointing them to more lucrative jobs that are less likely to be disrupted by AI.
These companies are tackling plenty of new challenges, too, well beyond the classroom. Liner wants to be an invaluable tool for researchers who are looking for verified sources and peer-reviewed information; the company is already being used by more than 12 million users across the world. Patient Ready closely mimics encounters with real patients through AI-powered simulations, allowing healthcare students to practice those interactions without doing harm. And the wildly popular education app Duolingo continues to court new users with features like a sarcastic AI chatbot that enables live conversation in a different language—with a heavy dose of ennui.
1. Merit America
For enabling low-wage workers to upskill and AI-proof their careers
Since 2018, Merit America has helped low-wage workers reskill and find new career opportunities, serving nearly 20,000 people who have seen wage gains of $1.4 billion. On average, salaries increase from $27,800 to $48,500 within at least three months of completing a program with Merit America. The nonprofit is also catering to workers who have struggled to find upward mobility, with 63% of participants identifying as people of color and 52% who are women or nonbinary; the vast majority (85%) also do not have college degrees.
As generative AI changes the nature of work—and upends certain jobs—Merit America wants to give workers new pathways into industries that are less likely to be impacted by AI adoption. In 2025, the nonprofit added new career tracks to its roster that represent fields where AI will not entirely supplant humans: human resources, semiconductor and advanced manufacturing, and supply chain planning. Merit America is now working toward launching an online college dedicated to working adults, promising flexibility and career coaching; its hope is to bridge the gap between traditional higher education and workforce training programs.
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