Adaptive Learning, Realized? Examining the Promise of Personalized Tech in the Age of AI
For years, adaptive learning technology has been promoted as a revolutionary advancement that would transform how we teach and learn. Yet, despite this promise, many of the early tools struggled to deliver meaningful results. Systems often relied on rigid, rule-based designs that couldn’t truly adjust to the needs of individual learners. Instructors were left with technology that felt more frustrating than helpful.
Now, with the rise of generative AI, the landscape is shifting. Over the past few years, we’ve seen rapid advances that may finally help adaptive learning live up to its potential. Rather than focusing solely on performance data, AI-driven tools can begin to respond to learners’ needs in real time, taking into account context, curiosity, and intent.
In this post, I’ll explore some of the benefits and challenges of these emerging technologies and highlight platforms like Khanmigo and Duolingo Max that are shaping what personalized learning looks like today. I’ll also consider how these tools could be used in professional training and development, where personalization can improve both learner confidence and business outcomes.
Benefits: Real-Time Feedback and Personalized Pathways
One of the key advantages of adaptive tools is the ability to offer real-time, personalized feedback. Learners don’t have to wait for a teacher’s response or skim through irrelevant content- they receive help exactly when they need it.
Khanmigo, for example, is an AI-powered tutor developed by Khan Academy using GPT-4. It acts as a supportive guide, helping students work through problems while encouraging deeper thinking. The tool doesn’t just provide answers; it asks guiding questions, offering a more dialogic learning experience. Sal Khan, the founder of Khan Academy, describes it as a tool that is “not just smart, but wise,” aiming to support learning rather than shortcut it.
Similarly, Duolingo Max brings AI into language learning. This premium version of the popular app includes two standout features: “Explain My Answer” and “Roleplay.” These allow users to get context behind correct or incorrect answers and engage in interactive conversations with an AI character. The result is a more immersive and flexible learning experience that adjusts to a user’s pace and preferences.
Both tools show how adaptive learning can become more than a sequence of right or wrong responses. Instead, they provide scaffolding that helps learners grow, not just complete tasks.
Costs and Concerns: Access, Equity, and Oversight
Despite these benefits, there are important limitations and concerns to consider.
Access and equity remain significant barriers. Duolingo Max, for example, is only available on iOS and comes with a $168 annual price tag. While Khanmigo is donation-supported, it's currently in pilot testing and limited to certain school partnerships. Tools that could democratize learning often remain out of reach for the very learners who could benefit most.
There are also ethical and pedagogical risks. Adaptive tools can’t yet match the intuition of a skilled educator who understands when to push, when to pause, or how to read between the lines of student responses. AI-powered platforms can flatten learning into a transactional experience if overused or poorly implemented.
Data privacy is another concern. These tools collect large amounts of user information, and while companies emphasize their safety protocols, questions remain about how this data is stored and used. This concern becomes even more urgent for corporate training, where learners may interact with proprietary or sensitive materials.
Potential in Professional Learning and Development
Adaptive learning could help employees train more efficiently in the workplace by tailoring content based on their experience, role, or performance. For example, onboarding could be redesigned so that learners with prior knowledge could skip basic modules and dive straight into advanced topics.
A tool like Sana Labs, which offers personalized training recommendations using AI, could help identify gaps in understanding and provide targeted reinforcement. This approach makes learning less about checking boxes and more about building real competency.
For learners dealing with complex systems, like the forms and workflows in insurance or compliance training, adaptive tools could provide just-in-time help. Instead of forcing everyone through the same curriculum, employees could receive focused guidance on the areas where they struggle most.
Conclusion: A Promising Step Forward, If Used Wisely
Adaptive learning is not new, but with generative AI, it finally feels within reach. Tools like Khanmigo and Duolingo Max show what’s possible when AI supports learning rather than replaces it. These tools offer personalization, flexibility, and engagement that traditional methods can’t always match.
However, they also come with real challenges- accessibility, transparency, and the risk of diminishing the role of educators. If we want these tools to enhance learning in a meaningful way, we must approach them thoughtfully. The goal should be to extend what educators and trainers already do well, not to automate it away.
Ultimately, adaptive learning will only be as effective as those who design, implement, and guide it. As we continue to explore these tools, the most important question may not be, “What can AI do?” but rather, “What should it do- and for whom?”
Resources
Herold, B. (2016, August 17). 5 Trends to Watch in Adaptive Learning. Marketbrief. https://marketbrief.edweek.org/meeting-district-needs/5-trends-to-watch-in-adaptive-learning/2016/08
I Asked AI to Tell Me Something About Myself That I Didn’t Know. It Was a Fascinating Exercise. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2025, from https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/duolingo-launches-new-ai-powered-subscription-tier/
Meet Khanmigo: Khan Academy’s AI-powered teaching assistant & tutor. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2025, from https://khanmigo.ai/
Sana for compliance training | Learning platform. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2025, from https://sanalabs.com/learning/use-cases/compliance-training