Measuring the impact of learning with AI in Sierra Leone and beyond

A study in Sierra Leone tested whether AI (specifically Google's Gemini) could help students learn math better by acting as a teaching partner rather than replacing teachers. The AI was designed using a 'Socratic' approach, asking guiding questions instead of giving direct answers, and students who used it showed significant learning gains equivalent to 1.2 to 2.5 years of typical progress in just eight weeks, while maintaining high engagement and shifting their own questions toward understanding rather than just seeking solutions.