Artificial intelligence and equal opportunity in education

Equality of opportunity in education requires access to quality learning opportunities for all, but socioeconomic inequalities, geographical barriers, disability and the digital divide limit this access. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can reduce these inequalities through personalized learning, disability-accessible content and multilingual-cultural adaptations. They can also ease teachers' workload and facilitate early identification of at-risk students. However, the benefits of AI may not trickle down equally to all groups; lack of access to technology and biases in algorithms may exclude some groups. AI tools therefore need to be transparent, explainable and ethically grounded. This chapter examines the dimensions of the digital divide, the contributions of AI, the effects of algorithmic biases, and teachers' AI literacy, and offers recommendations for inclusive AI design and policy. © 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.