South Korea’s $850 Million AI Textbook Project Fails Just Four Months After Launch

South Korea’s ambitious nationwide rollout of AI-powered textbooks, a $850 million initiative designed to transform learning in schools, has collapsed just four months after its launch. The initiative, which promised personalized learning, reduced teacher workloads, and improved student outcomes, has faced widespread criticism from students, teachers, and parents due to technical errors, content issues, and privacy concerns.

South Korea’s $850 million AI-powered textbook initiative collapses just four months after launch due to technical failures, content issues, and rising concerns from teachers, students, and parents.

AI Textbooks Promised a Personalized Learning Revolution

The project, introduced earlier this year, involved AI-generated textbooks for subjects like mathematics, English, and computer science. Designed by a consortium of around a dozen publishers, the digital books aimed to adapt lessons to each student’s individual learning level. Government officials touted the initiative as the future of education, envisioning a classroom where struggling students could keep pace while teachers benefited from reduced administrative burdens.

The South Korean government invested over 1.2 trillion won (around $850 million) into the initiative, with publishers expecting a robust national market for AI-enhanced learning materials. However, the rollout immediately exposed gaps in preparedness. Classes were often delayed due to software malfunctions, and the textbooks frequently delivered mismatched or generic content instead of the promised personalized lessons.

Teachers and Parents Raise Concerns

Educators reported that the AI textbooks increased their workload rather than reducing it. Many teachers struggled with tracking student progress due to software glitches, while others noted factual errors and uneven content quality. Students using the AI textbooks independently often found it difficult to stay focused, compounding the challenges.

Parents and advocacy groups also expressed concerns over excessive screen time, privacy risks, and the potential for the initiative to widen educational inequality, particularly for students who depend heavily on classroom guidance. These issues culminated in legal challenges, with teacher unions and parent groups accusing the Ministry of Education of implementing the AI textbooks without adequate testing or consultation.

Political Shifts and Policy Reassessment

The project’s difficulties were compounded by political change. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, a key proponent of AI textbooks, was impeached and removed from office. His successor, Lee Jae Myung, opposed the initiative and initiated a reassessment. By August, lawmakers officially downgraded the AI textbooks from mandatory classroom materials to optional supplements, leading to a sharp drop in adoption rates—from 37% in the first semester to just 19% in the following term.

Publishers Seek Compensation, Educators Divided

While publishers defend the textbooks, highlighting benefits for multilingual learners and students in underserved regions, they admit the rollout was rushed and insufficiently tested. Many companies are now seeking compensation for financial losses caused by the abrupt policy shift.

Educators remain divided in their assessments. Some teachers appreciated gamified elements that helped engage struggling students, while others criticized the incomplete and error-prone nature of the materials. A veteran teacher described the project as a “cautionary tale,” emphasizing that AI cannot simply fix structural educational challenges without proper planning, testing, and support.

Lessons Learned

The failure of South Korea’s AI textbook initiative underscores the challenges of integrating emerging technologies into national education systems. While AI holds promise for personalized learning, the rollout highlights the risks of rapid implementation without thorough testing, consultation with stakeholders, and robust teacher training. The project now serves as a reminder that technology alone cannot resolve deep-rooted educational problems, and that human oversight, careful planning, and incremental adoption remain crucial for success.