AI in French Education: Transformation and Challenges (2025)
Comprehensive analysis of French AI integration initiatives in education, from public policies to ethical and pedagogical challenges.
Major Initiatives
Overview
In This Issue
Starting in June 2025, France intensified its efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its education system, marked by the publication of an "AI Usage Framework in Education" and strategic ministerial reports.
Concrete initiatives such as the PIX AI education pathway for students, a call for projects for sovereign AI serving teachers, an AI assistant for school leadership personnel, and a mission on AI in higher education pedagogical practices have been launched.
Simultaneously, research continued on AI in Francophone higher education and doctoral training, while international perspectives, particularly the EU and OECD AILit framework, influenced national approaches. Student AI adoption is massive, contrasting with more measured integration by teachers, raising ethical, training, and equity issues.
French National Initiatives
Publication of the "Framework for AI Use in Education"
June 14, 2025
The Ministry of National Education and Youth published the first "Framework for the use of artificial intelligence in education".
Origin
Result of a national consultation from January to May 2025, gathering over 500 contributions
Key Principles
- Respect for Republican School values
- Legal compliance (GDPR, SREN law, European AI regulation)
- "Frugal" use with "proven added value"
- Preference for open-source tools
Conditions of Use by Audience
Elementary Level
Awareness of basic AI knowledge, without direct manipulation of generative AI services
From 8th Grade
Pedagogical use authorized exclusively in class, supervised by teachers, without personal accounts
Staff
Discernment required, diversification of assessments, vigilance against biases and "hallucinations"
Ministerial Reports on AI in Education
Submission of Reports to Ministers
Two reports on education and artificial intelligence submitted to Ministers Élisabeth Borne and Philippe Baptiste, commissioned in December 2024 and co-authored by IGESR, Frédéric Pascal and François Taddei.
Higher Education
- • 26 recommendations formulated
- • Estimated funding: €300-500M over 5 years
- • Focus areas: training, governance, ethical integration
Schools
- • 10 main recommendations
- • Creating an adoption dynamic
- • Structuring reflection and action
Concrete Initiatives and Projects
| Initiative/Project | Target Audience / Objective | Date | Funding / Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIX AI Education Pathway [1] [41] | Secondary students (mandatory 8th, 10th grade, 1st year vocational); teachers. Training in AI basics, prompting, data. | September 2025 | PIX platform |
| Call for Projects for Sovereign AI Serving Teachers [1] [41] | Teachers. Development of sovereign AI for course preparation and assessment. | Summer 2025 (CFP) | 20 million euros (France 2030) |
| AI Assistant for School Leadership Personnel [1] [41] | School leaders and HR managers. Assistance with administrative and regulatory tasks. | 2025 (rollout) | Pilot in Lyon academy |
| Mission on AI in Higher Education Pedagogical Practices [41] [56] | Higher education. Assess AI impact, propose integration framework, identify training needs. | Launched December 2024 | Report submitted July 2025 |
PIX AI Education Pathway
Starting in September 2025, secondary school students will benefit from a dedicated AI training pathway on the PIX platform.
Mandatory for:
- • 8th grade (middle school)
- • 10th grade (high school)
- • 1st year vocational training (CAP)
Duration: 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, personalized program including prompting, how AI works, data management, and environmental impacts.
Sovereign AI for Teachers
€20 million call for projects to develop sovereign, open, and scalable AI for teachers.
Objectives:
- • Course preparation
- • Student assessment
- • Respect for Republican values
Availability planned for the 2026-2027 school year, as part of the France 2030 strategy.
Recent Developments - August 2025
Launch of MIA Seconde Platform
New official digital remediation platform integrating AI features to personalize learning paths in French and mathematics for 10th graders.
Key Features:
- • AI-based personalized recommendations
- • Skills and interests analysis
- • Individualized pathway tracking
Launch of PIX AI Pathway in September 2025
The PIX AI education pathway will be deployed in all French schools starting September 2025, marking a historic milestone in student digital training.
Pathway Characteristics:
- • Mandatory for 8th, 10th grade, and 1st year vocational
- • Flexible duration from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours
- • AI literacy skills assessment
- • Training on ethical and environmental issues
Research and Studies on AI in Education
Research in Francophone Higher Education
Study published in the Canadian Journal of Educational and Social Studies exploring AI in Francophone higher education (France, Belgium, Quebec, Switzerland, Tunisia).
Main Findings:
- • 99% adoption of AI tools by students
- • Positive perception: reduced work time (83%)
- • Improved problem-solving (79%)
- • Concerns: dependency (52%), data security (80%)
Rapid technological transformation between 2023-2024 requiring urgent university adaptation with ethical and responsible training offerings.
AI-Edu Project on Doctoral Training
Project "Determinants and impact of AI Education – AI-Edu", funded by ANR, started December 2024 for 36 months.
Research Questions:
- • Where are French doctoral students trained in AI?
- • What are the determinants of this training?
- • Impact on career, productivity, and professional networks
Using microdata on French STEM PhDs (2000-2022) and thesis content analysis via neural network algorithms.
Training and Networking Events
EDUC Alliance
Retreat for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers at the University of Rennes from November 3-7, 2025 on "AI in Research & Education".
Planned Activities
- • Practical workshops
- • Roundtables
- • Networking opportunities
- • Exploration of AI contributions
International Perspectives and Global Trends
EU and OECD AILit Framework
Empowering Learners for the Age of AI
AI Literacy Framework for primary and secondary education
Working version published in May 2025 by the European Union and OECD, aiming to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to navigate an AI-influenced world.
Understanding AI
How it works and evolves
AI-related Skills
Working with AI, making AI work
Societal Impacts
Implications and ethical considerations
Public Consultation
Final version expected for 2026, accompanied by concrete classroom examples. Consultation open until end of 2025.
Global Trends of AI in Education
Hyper-personalization
Adaptive learning platforms analyzing student data in real-time to adjust content, pace, and difficulty.
AI "Co-pilot"
Assistance for administrative tasks (tracking, reports) and pedagogical (course preparation, assessment) for teachers.
Enhanced Accessibility
Translation and text-to-speech tools breaking down language barriers, making education more inclusive.
Major Identified Challenges
- Ethics and equity questions
- Personal data protection
- Digital divide and inequalities
- Need to develop "AI literacy"
International Conferences on AI in Education
| Conference / Event | Dates | Location / Organization | Main Themes / Objectives |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICMAIE 2025 [83] | June 10-12, 2025 | Valenciennes, France | Metaverse and AI in education, immersive technologies, Education 5.0, Society 5.0 |
| ISAIE 2025 [16] | Sept. 19-21, 2025 | Changsha, China | Educational AI research, ChatGPT, adaptive systems, cognitive modeling, NLP |
| WAIE 2025 [17] | Sept. 27-29, 2025 | Yokohama, Japan | AI algorithms, neural networks, educational robotics, virtual/augmented reality |
| AIET 2025 [19] | Submission: June 20, 2025 | Munich, Germany | Learning contexts, inequalities, human-AI systems, assessment, innovative applications |
| BIP CIVIS [167] | Oct. 4, 2025 - Feb. 27, 2026 | CIVIS - A European Civic University | Medical AI applications, human rights risks, bioethics, ethical risks |
Issues, Challenges, and Adoption Statistics
AI Usage Statistics by Students and Teachers
Student Adoption
Source: Digital Education Council / GoStudent study
Main platform: ChatGPT (88% for free version)
Teacher Adoption
Observed Gap
High student adoption (86%) versus low teacher integration (20%), requiring massive training efforts.
Ethical Concerns and Integration Challenges
Main Identified Challenges
Teacher Training
Only 20% of teachers trained, need for massive training adapted to pedagogical practices.
Access Equity
Risk of widening inequalities between well-resourced schools and less-favored ones.
Academic Integrity
26% of French students use AI to pass exams (above European average).
Proposed Solutions
Clearly Defined Frameworks
The July 2025 report highlights lack of frameworks as main integration obstacle.
Role Redefinition
Teachers become facilitators rather than transmitters, students become autonomous actors in their learning.
"Educational Commons"
Resource and tool pooling to limit inequalities between schools.
AI Impact on Inclusive Education
Identified Advantages
Active and Personalized Participation
April 2025 MDPI study shows how AI facilitates access through MOOCs and adaptive systems.
Specialized Supports
Humanoid robots and virtual agents for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), adapting pace and learning style.
Reduced Administrative Burden
Automation of repetitive tasks allowing teachers to focus on individualized support.
Persistent Challenges
Lack of Inclusive Equipment
Adapted infrastructure and materials insufficiently available in many schools.
Parental Resistance
Reluctance from some families regarding technology use in their children's education.
Specialized Training Needed
Critical need for specific training for teachers working with students with special needs.
Perspectives and Conclusion
French Initiatives Assessment
France has initiated a major transformation of its education system with AI, marked by the publication of the first national framework for use in June 2025. Concrete initiatives (PIX Pathway, Sovereign AI, Leadership Assistant) demonstrate a structured and ambitious approach.
Challenges to Overcome
The gap between massive student adoption (86%) and limited teacher integration (only 20% trained) constitutes the main challenge. Ethics, equity, and training questions remain central.
Identified Priorities for 2026
- • Massive Training: Reduce gap between student adoption and teacher training
- • Deploy Sovereign AI: Realize the €20M call for projects
- • Fight Digital Divide: Guarantee territorial access equity
- • Evaluate Impact: Measure real pedagogical effects
- • Secure Usage: Strengthen ethical and regulatory framework
Confirmed Schedule
- • September 2025: Deployment of mandatory PIX AI pathway
- • 2026-2027: Expected delivery of sovereign teacher AI
- • 2026: Final version of EU-OECD AILit framework expected
This report synthesizes initiatives, research, and perspectives on AI in French education, based on official sources and available academic studies.