The Future of EdTech: AI with Purpose and Accessibility by Design

In this episode of EdTech on the Street, we joined Acky near Bryant Park in New York City for a conversation about where the EdTech industry is headed in 2026 and beyond. Set in a quiet garden tucked away from the city noise, the conversation started lightly with roses, rose tea, and a quick icebreaker, but quickly moved into the big questions shaping education technology today.

Our conversation centered on three themes that continue to surface in boardrooms and strategy sessions: AI adoption, measuring learning outcomes in a post-AI world, and accessibility as both a responsibility and an opportunity.

For senior leaders, these conversations are no longer theoretical but are operational, financial, and strategic decisions that will shape competitive positioning over the next several years.

You Can’t Just Say AI, Now It’s About ROI

Acky pointed out that the industry has moved past the basic question of whether or not to use AI. That debate is mostly over. The real question now is whether AI is being used with a clear purpose, whether teams are adopting it in a sustainable way, and whether companies can actually measure the outcomes.

Higher education institutions are experimenting and adopting; EdTech companies are embedding AI features into their solutions; and internal teams are integrating generative tools into workflows. The phase of experimenting is over. Now, people expect results.

 As Acky puts it, “Why are you doing what you’re doing? And does it actually help learners learn?” We will have to rethink how we assess learners’ progress and measure learning in the AI world, given that learners will use AI.  For EdTech companies, this matters because AI cannot just be a shiny feature added to a product. It has to create value. Acky shared that, even internally, teams may use AI in bursts, then run into frustration when the results are inconsistent. That experience reflects what many companies are facing: AI is powerful, but it still needs intention, structure, and a clear way to measure return on investment. Otherwise, it becomes a very expensive trick with a questionable finale.

For executive teams, the central question is no longer “Are we using AI?” It is “Are we achieving the outcomes we expected, and can we prove it?”

How Do We Measure Learning with AI in the Picture?

The conversation then turned to how AI is changing learning itself. Acky explained that AI makes many parts of learning easier, including finding content, organizing information, and even understanding basic concepts. The former barriers that once defined academic rigor have changed. But that creates a new challenge: just because a student can access or summarize information does not mean they have actually learned it.

Traditionally, aspects of assessment were embedded in the process and the effort to create the assessments. AI alters that dynamic. Students can now generate drafts, outlines, and commentary in seconds with one prompt.

Now that AI is embedded in the learning process, assessments must adapt to the application and reflect critical thinking. The conversations around assessments have shifted to addressing whether learners can apply concepts in real-world contexts. Or if they can demonstrate critical thinking? The biggest focus is on one that everyone should be thinking about: are they able to critique AI-generated output rather than just accept it as it is?

Acky’s argument is simple: “We need to rethink what’s worth teaching.”

Critical thinking. Context. Nurturing creativity and human judgment. The ability to evaluate and question outputs rather than produce them. How to manage and live alongside powerful AI tools and not lose humanity.

For EdTech companies, this represents a design, a product, and an execution challenge. Platforms and solutions must evolve to measure applied learning, not just completion. Institutions must rethink assessment models. The transition will take time, but the organizations that address it directly will be better positioned as AI becomes fully integrated into education systems.

Accessibility Is More Than Just a Strategy

The final major theme was accessibility. Acky made a strong case that accessibility should not be treated as a compliance checkbox. For edtech companies, it should be part of the product strategy from the start. Universal design helps companies serve more learners, reach more markets, and build products that work for a wider range of needs.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles enable digital products to be accessible to every learner regardless of cognitive, physical, and situational needs.

Where the conversation becomes more complex is in legacy content. Education has been around for a long time, and higher education institutions, publishers, etc., have decades of digital materials created before accessibility was prioritized. These assets represent substantial investment and, in many cases, ongoing revenue streams. Retrofitting them to meet modern accessibility standards is neither simple nor inexpensive.

Importantly, market expectations are shifting. Institutions and enterprise clients increasingly expect baseline compliance as a minimum requirement. The competitive edge lies in exceeding those standards and demonstrating a genuine commitment to inclusive learning.

Defining Successful AI Adoption and Integration

The next phase of EdTech will not be defined by rapid AI or technology adoption, but by discipline.

For C-suite leaders, this requires clarity of vision and operational follow-through. It means investing in analytics frameworks that connect technology adoption to outcomes. It means challenging product teams to rethink measurement models. It means allocating capital toward modernization initiatives that protect
long-term value.

AI is only one piece of a much larger system.

“AI might make a lot of things easy in our lives, and in effect take away many jobs, but at the same time, AI will create new risks. And new risks mean new jobs,” Acky says. “And new jobs mean going back to education for upskilling & reskilling.”

The opportunity is significant. EdTech is in an era of rapid transformation. Those who succeed will be those who integrate AI effectively, with measurable impact, inclusive design, and a clear understanding of what learning should look like in the years ahead.