Israel Pilots AI Tutors for 2,000 Students Amid Teacher Shortage
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israel is piloting AI tutors for 2,000 students in grades 7-8 in 20 schools, aiming to address teacher shortages. Developed by Kaltura, the virtual instructors provide personalized math and science lessons, with plans for expansion. While the program offers benefits like repeated questioning and teacher support dashboards, independent results on academic improvement are still needed, and the AI is meant to supplement human teachers.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- 2,000 Israeli students in 20 schools are using AI tutors for math and science.
- The AI tutors are virtual avatars designed to provide personalized, interactive learning.
- The initiative is part of the Ministry of Education's "Program 720" and is developed by Kaltura.
- Human teachers receive dashboards to monitor student progress and identify learning gaps.
- The program aims to assist, not replace, human educators, with results on academic impact pending.
- Israel is not the first country to implement AI in classrooms, with similar pilots in London and South Korea.
Israel is experimenting with artificial intelligence tutors for approximately 2,000 students in grades seven and eight across 20 schools as part of the Ministry of Education's "Program 720." The initiative, led by technology company Kaltura, focuses on mathematics and science, utilizing virtual instructors presented as friendly avatars that interact with students in Hebrew or Arabic.
These AI tutors are designed to provide personalized learning experiences, allowing students to ask questions repeatedly without embarrassment and receive explanations tailored to their individual pace and difficulties. The system incorporates interactive illustrations and quizzes, adapting practice exercises to each student's needs. Human teachers benefit from a dashboard that tracks student progress and identifies those requiring extra attention.
While the cost for the English language component of Program 720 is set at approximately 50 shekels per student annually, funded by school budgets, the specific cost for Kaltura's pilot in math and science has not been disclosed. Schools are required to provide computers, internet access, and teacher training for the program.
Although Israel is exploring AI in education, it is not the first. A private school in London began an AI and VR pilot in September 2024, and South Korea launched AI-based digital textbooks in 2025, though their use was later made optional due to concerns about screen time and pedagogical effectiveness.
Kaltura plans to expand its AI offerings to English studies and aims to export the Israeli model internationally. Bat Sheva Moshe, Kaltura's Israel operations manager, highlighted the avatar's ability to provide tailored, continuous support. However, it remains too early to declare an end to teacher shortages, as independent results proving the pilot's impact on academic achievement are pending, and the system is currently intended to assist, not replace, human educators.
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
