In this panel discussion, Ashok Goel and Bryan Richardson (Gates Foundation) join Zac Pardos (UC Berkeley) to discuss the future of educational chatbots and conversational AI agents. Drawing on perspectives from research, philanthropy, and educational practice, the conversation explores how AI is reshaping teaching and learning and what is needed to ensure these technologies are both effective and responsible.

The panel examines topics including the gap between perception and reality in educational AI, approaches to evaluation and benchmarking, ethical considerations, pedagogical design, and real-world classroom deployment. The discussion concludes with an audience Q&A on the opportunities and challenges of AI in education, offering insights into the evolving role of conversational AI in learning environments.