Artificial Intelligence in Education and Social Sciences: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Implications

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most influential technologies of the twenty-first century, reshaping knowledge systems, governance structures, and social relations. In the fields of education and social sciences, AI offers transformative possibilities ranging from personalized learning, adaptive pedagogy, and unbiased evaluation to largescale social research, evidence-based policymaking, and conflict prediction. At the same time, AI raises critical ethical, political, and social concerns related to bias, surveillance, exclusion, and erosion of human agency. This paper examines the conceptual foundations of AI, its applications in education and social science research, and its implications for public policy and development. Drawing upon global and Indian case studies, the paper argues that AI, when embedded within ethical governance frameworks and guided by social science insights, can strengthen inclusive development, democratic decision-making, and human-centered education. However, without adequate safeguards, AI risks reinforcing existing inequalities and power asymmetries.