A participant tries out AI-powered digital textbook during the 2024 Edtech Korea Fair at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul's Gangnam District, Sept. 23. Yonhap

Concerns grow that artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital textbooks could further increase digital dependency among teenagers, according to teachers, parents and experts, Sunday, as the Ministry of Education plans to roll out new textbooks in schools starting next semester.

While the initiative aims to modernize education, there are warnings that AI in classrooms may be premature, with concerns that it could worsen existing inequalities among students.

The education ministry will complete the verification and revision of AI-powered digital textbooks by Nov. 29, with a final approved version to be distributed to schools next month. Each school will then review the materials and choose one digital textbook per subject to be used in classes.

Starting next March, teachers will be required to use both paper textbooks and AI digital versions. The digital textbooks will be introduced for English, mathematics and information technology classes for third and fourth grade in elementary school, as well as first-year students in middle and high school.

The new digital textbooks aim to support personalized learning, adjusting content to each student's level and pace. Teachers will also have access to data-driven insights, allowing for more customized education plans.

The ministry envisions this approach to shift away from a uniform class structure, in which all students move at the same pace, and instead allow for more various teaching methods.

By leveraging AI, the textbooks are expected to offer detailed analyses of student progress, empowering teachers to redesign courses based on individual learning needs.

Students use smartphones while heading home outside a middle school in Seoul, Nov. 4. Yonhap

However, despite the upcoming launch of AI digital textbooks, teachers question whether they'll be fully prepared to teach with a system so different from traditional methods — especially with only a few months of training.

A high school English teacher in Seoul surnamed Jung expressed concerns about the readiness to implement the AI digital textbooks next year following her training experience.

"It felt like everyone was just exploring, clicking on things without knowing what they were," Jung said.

She noted that even the instructor referred to the system as a beta version, advising teachers to familiarize themselves with it but not to expect full proficiency immediately.

"I think it's positive to provide real-time assistance to students through personalized learning, but if students use tablets too much, it could harm their eyes," she said.

"I also think it may be difficult for them to adapt to this new system, especially since tests are still taken on paper."

Parents are also expressing resistance to the idea of officially introducing digital devices in classrooms, especially as a law to ban smartphones in schools is being considered.

The education ministry explained that AI digital textbook terminals will be programmed to block harmful media. However, it may be challenging to fully prevent students from accessing the internet.

In addition, concerns over digital over-immersion and the digital divide continue to grow.

Park Joo-ho, a professor at Hanyang University's Department of Education, warned that excessive digital use could hinder literacy and creativity in teenagers.

"There's a difference between accessing books or information on a computer and viewing it on a digital screen," he explained.

"On a computer, you only see the information at hand, which prevents deeper thinking beyond the provided content."

Park also raised concerns about the widening digital gap, particularly among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

"The digital divide already exists due to socioeconomic status, and as digital tools become more prevalent, the gap will only grow between students who are proficient with technology and those who are not," he said.

"AI can currently only diagnose students' problem-solving skills, but it's premature to integrate such technology into the classroom fully."