By Linet Amuli - Reporter
Kenya, November 24, 2025 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a concept of the future. It is actively reshaping education, redefining how students learn, teachers teach, and institutions prepare learners for an increasingly digital world. Across the globe, schools and universities are leveraging AI to create personalized learning experiences, automate administrative tasks, and equip students with the skills needed for emerging industries.
In the classroom, AI is helping move education from passive lectures to interactive, hands-on learning. Intelligent systems can now adapt lessons to individual student needs, provide instant feedback, and simulate real-world scenarios, allowing learners to experiment safely and creatively. Tools like AI-powered tutoring systems, virtual laboratories, and adaptive learning platforms are giving students the opportunity to understand concepts deeply rather than just memorize them.
A compelling example comes from Mount Kenya University (MKU), which recently unveiled the Walker E Educational Humanoid Robot at its Thika Main Campus. The robot allows students to interact directly with a machine that can perform complex tasks, respond to programming commands, and simulate AI-driven behaviour.
Through the robot, MKU students can build and test algorithms, explore machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, and even participate in innovation challenges that tackle real-world problems.
According to Dr. John Kamau, Dean of the School of Computing and Informatics at MKU, the robot bridges the gap between theory and practice. “Students will use this robot to develop and test new algorithms, understand robotic behaviour, and explore multiple programming languages. This enhances problem-solving skills and deepens their mastery of AI concepts,” he said.
Beyond MKU, universities worldwide are integrating AI into curricula to equip students with industry-relevant skills. AI education prepares learners not only for careers in technology but also for fields increasingly impacted by automation and data-driven decision-making, including healthcare, finance, engineering, and environmental management.
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Moreover, AI fosters innovation and creativity. By allowing students to experiment with simulations, robotics, and intelligent systems, education shifts from rote learning to problem-based learning, where students can prototype solutions, test ideas, and learn from iterative feedback. This is exactly what MKU’s humanoid robot facilitates, complementing its new programs in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Engineering.
The rise of AI in education also points to a broader transformation: the development of future-ready graduates who can thrive in a technology-driven economy. As AI tools become standard in classrooms, students are better prepared to understand, implement, and innovate with emerging technologies, giving them a competitive edge in both local and global job markets.
MKU’s adoption of a humanoid educational robot is a tangible illustration of how AI is shaping modern education: creating immersive, interactive, and practical learning experiences while preparing students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
In essence, AI is no longer just a subject to be studied — it is becoming a core part of how education itself is delivered, marking a new era where learning, experimentation, and innovation go hand in hand.
