Synthetic data for education: training AI without exposing children
UK research groups are generating artificial datasets that mimic real pupil data without using it. Regulators are watching. So are the companies that want access to better training sets.
By Wistl Editorial · · Labs
One of the most significant constraints on developing AI tools for education is data. Teaching an AI system to identify learning difficulties, adapt to individual pupils, or generate curriculum-aligned content requires training data that reflects real educational interactions. That data exists, in the form of records held by schools, assessment bodies and learning platforms. It is also among the most sensitive personal data that any organisation holds about children, and the legal and ethical barriers to using it for AI training are substantial. Synthetic data offers a partial solution. Resear