Andresa Theodora, Nikolaos Tselios (2026) — (University-affiliated). arXiv:2605.16296 [cs.CY]
Theodora and Tselios (2026) provide a policy-oriented synthesis of AI's dual role in adult and lifelong-learning contexts — as both an enabler of personalized, scalable education and a source of significant equity and governance challenges. Drawing on international policy frameworks, the paper argues that AI integration in adult education requires balanced policies promoting inclusion, transparency, and human-centered pedagogy.
The paper fills a notable gap in the ai-k12-evidence-base and related literature, which has predominantly focused on K-12 and higher education. Adult learners face distinct challenges: they are more likely to be affected by the digital-divide, have less institutional support than traditional students, and often engage in self-directed learning where AI tools may operate with minimal human oversight. The paper's emphasis on policy-maker responsibilities connects to broader regulation discussions.
Key tensions identified include the promise of intelligent-tutoring and learning-analytics for personalized workforce development versus risks of algorithmic-bias and over-reliance. The call for "responsible innovation" aligns with equity frameworks in educational AI and echoes concerns about ai-tutor-safety-harms in contexts where adult learners may lack the support structures available in formal education. For faculty-development and teacher-role in adult education, the paper highlights the urgent need for educator training in AI literacy — a theme consistent with ai-pedagogical-orientation research.
Related Pages
- lifelong-learning — related
- policy-maker — related
- equity — related
- digital-divide — related
- ai-k12-evidence-base — related
- over-reliance — related
- ai-tutor-safety-harms — related
- faculty-development — related
- ai-pedagogical-orientation — related
- intelligent-tutoring — related
Citation
APA: Andresa Theodora, Nikolaos Tselios (2026). Artificial Intelligence in Lifelong Learning: Opportunities and Challenges in Adult Education Policy. arXiv:2605.16296. arXiv:2605.16296 [cs.CY].