I don’t know about ‘automated’ education, but we 100% SHOULD have been using technology as an education AMPLIFIER for a long time already. No AI needed for that.

My wife is in education and spent over a decade teaching science at an alternative public school (the “You’ve fallen behind due to illness, pregnancy, or family issues, so come here to catch up” type, NOT the “You’re a total delinquent, here’s a ‘prison classroom’” type) that did self-paced learning.

She had recorded a ton videos of herself teaching all of the various concepts/standards that were required by the state for her subjects. She also had assignments ready for the entire course, and labs which could mostly be done by the students with minimal direct interaction by the teacher.

So the kids would come in, check in with her on what was the next thing they needed to work on, then would watch the video on their Chromebook and then do the assignment or lab. She’d be there for them to ask her about anything they didn’t understand, or for whatever help they needed.

There were of course some labs and assignments that they would schedule to be done by the whole class at a given time, when it was necessary, or made more sense.

So the kids who picked it up quickly could finish a semester worth of work and learning within a month or two, leaving her more time to spend helping the kids who were struggling with a given concept.

It also gave opportunities for the kids who had mastered a concept to be able to help those who hadn’t.

I see no reason similar methodologies and technologies couldn’t be employed at regular schools to amplify the ability of teachers to educate students and give the teachers more time to help the ones who weren’t picking things up as quickly, without holding back the students who were.