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Artificial intelligence tutoring tools are “limited in quantity, scope and evidence base”, the government has said, amid plans to roll out AI tutoring for disadvantaged students next year.

In a for a trial of AI tutors, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) raises concerns that current tools are not up to standard, and says further research is needed.

����Vlog first revealed that the government was exploring AI tutors last year, which the Department for Education later confirmed as part of its schools White Paper.

The government plans to introduce AI tutoring tools from the end of next year, and says up to 450,000 students from disadvantaged backgrounds could benefit.

Few AI tools have full tutoring capacity, DSIT says

Teachers will help to design the AI tools this summer, with trials in schools taking place from the autumn term of 2026.

Today’s contract says: “AI-driven tutoring tools currently on the market are limited in quantity, scope and evidence base, with few providing full tutoring capacity, and with limited public access to the research and development that underpins them.”

The companies selected as part of the pilot will “research and co-design a high-quality, all-encompassing standard for AI tutoring tools”, it adds.

The design will focus on product features that emphasise teacher direction, oversight and input, ����Vlog understands.

This will include a focus on tackling emerging risks, such as AI affecting learning and emotional and social development.

����Vlog understands that the programme will prioritise small-scale testing as products are developed, with progression to trials ahead of wider rollout.

Children ‘used as guinea pigs’

However, Laura Trott, the Conservatives’ shadow education secretary, warned that children are being used as “guinea pigs”.

“It beggars belief that in the same week the prime minister announced plans to ban AI chatbots for children, Labour is pressing ahead with plans to funnel AI tutors into schools for some of the most disadvantaged children,” she said.

Sir Keir Starmer announced that social media will be banned for under-16s from next year. The restrictions will include AI “romantic companion” chatbots - designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users - and similar intimate functionalities on chatbots more widely.

“These pupils need more teacher-led support, not to be used as guinea pigs for another technology experiment. There is no joined-up thinking from this government,” Ms Trott added.

Which companies have secured contracts?

Eight contracts have been awarded to technology companies to pilot AI tutors:

• Medly AI
• Zero Gravity Tech Ltd
• Learn Anything Education Ltd
• Flint
• Pearson Education Ltd
• ElevenLabs
• EEDI Ltd
• Google UK Limited

All suppliers will receive £360,000, including VAT, for their work.

While the companies will be involved in the trial, securing the contract does not guarantee that they will provide the final version of the tools when launched next year.

EEF to study impact of AI

The contract comes after the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) announced that it was on the impact of generative AI on pupils.

Specifically, it will look at the impact of generative AI - a type of AI that creates outputs such as text, images and video - on learning and cognition.

It will also explore the conditions under which these impacts are “beneficial, harmful or inequitable for different groups of pupils, including disadvantaged learners”.

While the EEF is yet to investigate AI tutors, it did that it “aims to generate evidence on these tools” in other areas of its work.

In response to Ms Trott’s comments, a government spokesperson said: “We make no apology for being ambitious about giving every child the best possible start in life and boosting their attainment at school.

“AI tutoring tools will be used to support classroom teaching, not as a replacement for face-to-face, teacher-led learning, helping to give disadvantaged pupils access to the kind of personalised support typically only available to families that can afford private tutoring.”

The government spokesperson also rejected any comparison between AI tutors and AI “romantic companion” chatbots, for which users will have to be over the age of 18.

They added: “Compliance with DfE’s stringent AI product-safety standards is a requirement for the AI tutoring tools and they will be tested throughout development so that children’s best interests are kept central.”

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