Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, spoke with University California Davis Chancellor Gary S. May on Apr. 14 during the Chancellor’s Colloquium Distinguished Speaker Series, focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence in education.
The conversation is part of ongoing efforts by University California Davis to address global issues through research and educational outreach, according to the official website. The event was held online and allowed attendees to submit questions about how universities and students can prepare for AI in academic settings, as well as concerns regarding its influence on critical thinking and the arts.
Chancellor May introduced Khan by saying, “Sal is at the forefront of the AI revolution, developing on-demand support systems for the next generation of students.” During their discussion, Khan explained how his journey began when he tutored his young cousin remotely using software and videos. “They weren’t struggling because they weren’t bright or hardworking or didn’t have access to great teachers. They just had gaps in their learning,” Khan told May. “The best way to address gaps is by maybe having one-on-one tutoring.” This experience led him to found Khan Academy in 2008 with a mission to provide “free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.”
Khan highlighted that education should be “mastery-based” so learners maintain agency and curiosity—qualities he feels are sometimes lost in traditional models. He said: “I am worried that, in this traditional factory model of education, a negative side effect is that you move lock-step, you accumulate some [learning] gaps and sometimes people check out to protect their self-esteem,” adding that once students become passive it can be debilitating.
Khan also addressed concerns about technology replacing teachers: “You need to have context in which the students are being engaged and held accountable…that teacher-driven classroom…is super important,” he said. He disagrees with viewing technology as a universal solution: “That motivation, that social connection, the mentorship from amazing teachers and peers…will be hard to replace.”
University California Davis features facilities such as the Bodega Marine Laboratory for coastal research according to its official website. The university has achieved top national rankings in agriculture, veterinary medicine and sustainability; it began as an extension focused on agriculture from UC Berkeley; it serves society through research addressing needs like climate change and food security—all according to information available on its official website.