From Functional to Empowered: How Can AI’s Potential Rewrite the Rules in Adult Education?

I was invited to join Erica Farmer and Hayley Bird from Quantum Rise on their podcast show “AI for the Average Joe” – Season 3, Episode 3. Reflecting on our conversation, it struck home that there’s something quietly revolutionary happening in the world of adult education, and it’s not about the latest shiny gadget. It’s about giving learners everyday tools to believe in themselves and boost their self-confidence.

In the episode I share my views on a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime: AI in functional skills education. Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or just someone curious about the human side of tech, tuning in is worth your time.

What Are Functional Skills and Why Should We Care?

Early in the episode I explain that functional skills are essential building blocks, in the form of English, Maths and Digital Literacy, skills that adults need to navigate confidently in work and through life.

These skills are all too often taken for granted… until you don’t have them. It seems that for many learners, especially those returning to education later in life, these skills feel out of reach as a result of past experiences and poor self-confidence.

This is where AI can enter the picture, not as a magic fix, but as a tool that can help to restore confidence, as a result of being used to contextualise learning experiences and add value.

AI isn’t replacing teachers, it’s there to scaffold learning and boost confidence.

So crucial, because in adult education, building confidence is half the battle. If someone hasn’t written a paragraph since school, or was made to feel like they couldn’t at any point in their life, then positive progress can seem daunting and overwhelming. What AI can help with is the ability to gently offer structure, support and a no-judgment starting point, to build from.

AI in Functional Skills Education: Practical Examples 

Here are some practical examples that bring the impact AI can have to life:

• Drafting cover letters using ChatGPT to build confidence.
• Using voice-to-text tools to express ideas more freely.
• Exploring step-by-step guidance in maths with AI-powered platforms, the kind that support learners at their own pace.

This isn’t about cheating. It’s about unlocking what’s already there, giving learners a taste of success to build from and encourage them to keep going.

But There Is Resistance

It is expected that learners and educators can be hesitant, for a range of reasons. Change is scary!

I’ve often heard “This is for clever people,” or “I’m too old for tech.” But once tried in a supportive way, and once learners can feel the results, something seems to shift.

With educators, once they realise AI is a support system, not a threat, they often come around too. It’s not about doing less, it’s about providing something better, freeing up more time for what matters most: the human connection.

Moments that Stick

Learners begin to see themselves differently when they use AI tools to help them, especially those who’ve struggled with education in the past.

While not every story is dramatic, there are moments when learners who’ve never written a CV or lacked the confidence to apply for jobs suddenly feel empowered. With AI offering that first nudge, a draft, a sentence, a bit of structure, the shift can be profound.

“I didn’t know I could sound this good,” is the kind of reaction I hear when learners realise they do have something to say, and have been shown the tools to help them say it.

That’s the power of technology, it’s not just about automating tasks, but the ability to amplify someone’s voice, pride and agency.

AI in Functional Skills Education: Where Do We Go From Here?

If we’re serious about inclusion, about lifelong learning, about meeting people where they are, then AI has to be part of that conversation. And not in a flashy, Silicon-Valley way. In a human, empathetic, quietly powerful way.

The future of learning looks hopeful with AI supporting, but only if we’re intentional about how we use these tools.

And maybe “the right way” starts with small steps: a rewritten sentence, a solved equation, in order to provide a spark of confidence in someone who’d been told they couldn’t get it right or that they were stupid!

Final Thoughts

If you’re an educator, mentor, or even just curious about what learning looks like in the AI age, this episode is worth a listen. It reminds us that progress doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it just whispers: “You can do this.” The future is bright if we use these tools the right way.