Book Review: Economist Daniel Susskind Makes Case for Embracing AI in Education

A newly published book by economist Daniel Susskind argues that artificial intelligence presents educational opportunities that parents and teachers should embrace rather than fear, according to a review published by The Guardian.

The book, titled "What Should My Children Do?", is described in the review as "refreshingly optimistic" in its approach to technology's role in classrooms.

The review draws a historical parallel to 1979, when the UK government commissioned Wilfred Cockcroft, a mathematics lecturer at the University of Hull, to produce a report addressing what was then described as a crisis in mathematics education. According to the review, Cockcroft's report included a chapter examining the calculator, a technological innovation becoming widely available to consumers at the time.

The review notes that many parents and teachers at the time feared calculators would undermine basic arithmetic skills, one of the traditional "three Rs" considered foundational to education. Critics worried the devices would produce generations of students who relied on gadgets rather than developing fundamental mathematical abilities, the review states.

Susskind's book uses this historical episode as a lens through which to examine contemporary debates about AI in education, according to the review. The reviewer characterizes the book's overall stance as encouraging readers to consider the potential benefits of AI tools in learning environments rather than approaching them primarily with apprehension.

The review was published in The Guardian's Culture section on September 9, 2026.