The Algorithmic Divide: How AI Is Deepening Educational Inequality

Access to AI tools is becoming a key factor in how students learn and succeed. It’s not just about cheating — that’s a real concern — but about who actually has the means to use these tools. Right now, students from wealthier families or schools with strong tech budgets can easily access powerful AI models like GPT-4. Others, especially those in low-income communities or underfunded schools, can’t afford the subscriptions or even the devices needed to use them. This isn’t just a gap in access; it’s a growing divide that puts some students at a clear disadvantage from day one.

The tools that promise to help students learn are often out of reach for many. GPT-4 and similar models cost over $20 a month — a price that doesn’t just feel steep, it feels impossible for many families to pay. And beyond cost, these models are trained mostly on English content. That means they don’t perform well for students learning in languages like Swahili, Māori, or other Indigenous dialects. The data used to train these tools reflects a world where English dominates — a legacy of colonialism and global power imbalances. Without diverse language data, AI tools fail to understand or support students from marginalized linguistic backgrounds. This doesn’t just hurt accuracy — it undermines confidence and learning in those communities.

How AI Risks Deepening Inequality

• Cost Barriers: Students from low-income families or schools with tight budgets can’t afford AI subscriptions. This creates a two-tier system where wealthier students get support and help, while others fall behind.
• Linguistic Bias: Most AI models are trained on English-heavy data. This makes them less useful — and sometimes harmful — for students using other languages, especially those from underrepresented or Indigenous communities.
• Erosion of Critical Thinking: When students rely on AI to write essays or summarize research, they miss chances to develop analysis, reasoning, and independent thought. The result? A generation less prepared to think deeply or solve complex problems.

We need to act now — not just to fix AI tools, but to ensure every student has fair access and the skills to use technology wisely. Without that, progress in education will leave many behind.