By 2045, AI could revolutionize education with personalized learning and global access while enhancing environmental sustainability through optimized resource management and climate mitigation. However, risks include reduced human interaction in education and increased energy consumption and resource depletion from AI infrastructure.

Thank you for raising such a timely and profound question.I find this inquiry both urgent and essential.

Over the next 20 years—by 2045—we are likely to witness a dual-edged transformation driven by Artificial Intelligence, one that holds extraordinary promise but also demands careful stewardship, especially in the realms of education and environmental sustainability.

In Education: A Reimagining of Teaching and Learning

AI has the potential to revolutionize education by personalizing learning at scale. Imagine a future where every student in a mathematics classroom receives real-time, adaptive feedback tailored to their cognitive style and pace—where AI tutors detect misconceptions in algebraic reasoning or geometric thinking and intervene with targeted scaffolding. This could democratize access to high-quality instruction, particularly in underserved communities.

However, we must be vigilant. The overreliance on AI-driven solutions risks undermining the development of critical thinking, creativity, and metacognition—skills that are cultivated through struggle, dialogue, and human mentorship. In mathematics education, for instance, the process of grappling with a challenging proof or constructing a logical argument cannot be fully outsourced to algorithms. If students begin to see AI as a shortcut rather than a scaffold, we risk producing generations who are technically literate but intellectually passive.

Moreover, the human dimension of education—the teacher-student relationship, the classroom discourse, the emotional support educators provide—cannot be replicated by machines. Therefore, the ideal scenario is not AI replacing teachers, but AI empowering them. By automating administrative tasks and offering data-driven insights, AI can free educators to focus on what they do best: inspiring curiosity, fostering resilience, and nurturing intellectual courage.

In the Environment: A Tool for Sustainability—or a Hidden Cost?

On the environmental front, AI offers powerful tools. Machine learning models are already improving climate modeling, optimizing renewable energy grids, and enhancing precision agriculture to reduce waste. By 2045, AI could enable real-time monitoring of ecosystems, early detection of deforestation or pollution, and smarter urban planning to reduce carbon emissions.

Yet, we must confront a paradox: the environmental cost of AI itself. Training large language models consumes vast amounts of energy and water. Data centers are becoming significant contributors to global carbon emissions. If we are not intentional, the very technology we deploy to save the planet may accelerate its degradation.

Thus, the path forward must be guided by what I call ecological intelligence—a fusion of AI innovation and environmental ethics. We need green AI: energy-efficient algorithms, sustainable hardware, and policies that mandate transparency in AI’s carbon footprint. Educational institutions have a role here too—by integrating sustainability into computer science and engineering curricula, we can cultivate a new generation of technologists who design not just for performance, but for planetary well-being.

A Vision for 2045: Human-Centered, Ethically Grounded AI

The future is not predetermined. The impact of AI will depend on the choices we make today. In education, we must ensure that AI serves equity, deepens understanding, and enhances—not erodes—human connection. In environmental stewardship, we must harness AI as a force for regeneration, not extraction.

As educators, researchers, and citizens, we have a responsibility to shape this future. That means advocating for inclusive AI policies, promoting digital literacy, and embedding ethical reasoning into every level of education—especially in mathematics and the sciences, where abstraction meets application.

In sum, I foresee a positive trajectory—if we act with foresight, humility, and moral clarity. Let us not ask only what AI can do, but what it should do. And let us ensure that in 2045, our classrooms and our ecosystems are more vibrant, just, and sustainable because of the choices we make today.

dear Abdelhak Maghchiche

"Thank you for your thoughtful response. I agree with your point, and I would add that AI could also reduce educational inequality in developing countries and support early-warning systems for natural disasters."@

dear Sergio Leal Ramirez

thank u for your professional detail, I especially appreciate the emphasis on balancing AI’s role in empowering teachers rather than replacing them. I would also add that integrating digital literacy and ethical reasoning early in school curricula could prepare students not only to use AI responsibly but also to critically evaluate its impact on society and the environment."

dear Sergio Leal Ramirez

thank u for your professional detail, I especially appreciate the emphasis on balancing AI’s role in empowering teachers rather than replacing them. I would also add that integrating digital literacy and ethical reasoning early in school curricula could prepare students not only to use AI responsibly but also to critically evaluate its impact on society and the environment.

Over the next 20 years, artificial intelligence will make education more personalised, accessible, and flexible by adapting learning to individual needs, automating routine tasks, and expanding access to quality resources globally. In terms of the environment, AI can drive sustainability by optimising energy use, improving climate modelling, reducing waste through smart systems, and supporting environmentally friendly innovations. Together, these advances have the potential to transform learning and promote greener, more resilient societies.

dear P.Selvaraj Raj

Thank you for your valuable answer. Your points clearly highlight the positive impact of AI on education and the environment. It might also be useful to consider some challenges such as digital inequality or over-reliance on AI systems. I appreciate your contribution."

"Artificial Intelligence is expected over the next 20 years to transform education through personalized and inclusive learning, and to protect the environment by improving resource management, predicting climate risks, and enhancing sustainability."

Over the next 20 years, Artificial Intelligence is expected to significantly transform both education and the environment by driving efficiency, personalization, and sustainability. In education, AI will enable highly personalized learning experiences through adaptive platforms, virtual tutors, and intelligent assessment tools, bridging gaps in access to quality education and making lifelong learning more accessible. It will also reduce administrative burdens on teachers, allowing them to focus more on creativity and student engagement. For the environment, AI will play a key role in tackling climate change by optimizing energy use, improving renewable energy systems, enhancing climate modeling, monitoring biodiversity, and supporting sustainable agriculture and waste management. However, both areas will also face challenges such as ethical concerns, data privacy, unequal access, and the energy demands of AI itself, making responsible governance crucial to ensure that AI serves as a tool for equity, sustainability, and global progress.