AI sparks cybersecurity concerns in schools

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of everyday learning, promising personalized lessons and administrative support for teachers. Yet, alongside this optimism comes growing concern: are schools prepared for the cybersecurity challenges that AI may bring?

Not long ago, school IT teams mainly worried about phishing emails or weak staff passwords. Today, generative AI tools can craft highly convincing scam messages in seconds, making attacks faster, more precise, and harder to detect. Schools hold sensitive information—students’ home addresses, medical records, safeguarding notes, and financial details—yet many operate with limited IT budgets and outdated systems, making them easier targets for hackers.

According to Education Week, eperts warn that AI can analyze school websites, newsletters, and social media to learn staff roles and routines, then automatically generate targeted attacks. When breaches occur, the consequences affect real families, from exposed safeguarding reports to personal records. Rebuilding trust after an attack can take much longer than fixing the systems themselves.

The growing threat also highlights inequality in education: schools with more funding can invest in stronger cybersecurity, while under-resourced schools struggle to keep up.

Despite the risks, AI is not seen solely as a threat. Educators and technology leaders believe it could revolutionize learning, enabling students to progress at their own pace and easing teachers’ administrative workloads. But realizing this potential requires careful planning. Governments must set clear policies, tech companies must design tools responsibly, and schools need time to understand the technology they are introducing.

Until then, many teachers report a lack of guidance, while pressure to adopt new tools continues to rise. Every AI integration adds potential vulnerabilities, making it critical to balance innovation with safety. The key question for schools is clear: how can they harness AI to enhance learning without putting students at risk?