AI Trends in Ed Tech to Watch in 2025

3. AI in Physical Security Will Increase, Especially in Transportation

When it comes to student safety, AI has gained a foothold in physical security. The technology is being used with digital cameras, access control systems and video management platforms to help schools better manage school safety. School transportation is also becoming a growing area for AI use.

Canyons School District in Sandy, Utah, has been using AI technology with its school bus fleet to keep a closer eye on driver behavior and overall bus safety. CSD has found great success with its AI solution, helping the district reduce expenses tied to accident claims, and it is looking to expand its use of AI going forward.

“Our short-term plans include using the technology for bus routing, where AI would determine the most optimal route,” says Jeremy Wardle, CSD’s director of transportation. “We transport about 20,000 students every day. We think AI can help us get more efficient with fuel use and reduce student pickup and drop-off timelines.”

WATCH NOW: Learn how one school district upgraded its physical security tech.

4. AI in Cybersecurity Will Defend Schools from Advanced Cybercrime

As AI’s capabilities grow, schools and businesses aren’t the only entities taking advantage of this technology. Cybercriminals are employing AI to create more believable, more complex and more scalable attacks.

“AI is lowering the barrier of entry for a lot of low-level cybercriminals,” Marcos Christodonte II, vice president and global CISO for CDW, said at the CDW Executive SummIT in October. “AI is allowing them to create malicious software effectively at scale, and they can test that software using AI as well.”

The key to fighting AI attacks, in many cases, is with AI-powered cybersecurity.

“What we need to think about is, how are we leveraging AI as well in order to keep pace?” Christodonte asked.

Many solutions already have integrated AI capabilities. Automated threat detection (through network monitoring, endpoint security and access management) isn’t necessarily new, but these technologies will grow in their sophistication and popularity in the coming year and beyond.