Archive · 4 Sep 2026
IIIT Hyderabad Launches Centre to Rethink Learning in AI Era
IIIT Hyderabad is creating a new centre to study how people learn when AI is everywhere.
The centre is called the Centre for Educational Technologies and Learning Sciences, or CETLS.
It will study children, university students, workers and older adults.
Researchers will work with schools to understand how students really learn.
They want to help people think better instead of simply banning AI from classrooms.
The centre will combine ideas from psychology, education, science and technology.
Its leaders are concerned that students may rely on AI for answers without developing their own understanding.
They also want to find better ways to test what students know when AI can complete homework.
IIIT Hyderabad is establishing the Centre for Educational Technologies and Learning Sciences to study learning in the age of artificial intelligence.
The centre will cover school students through Class 12, higher education, executive training and learning for older adults.
Rather than supporting a blanket classroom ban on AI, CETLS will focus on strengthening children’s cognitive skills and improving educational methods.
CETLS will bring together experts in psychology, learning sciences, cognitive science and technology to develop tools for learning alongside AI.
Raj Reddy will address the centre’s inaugural event on September 5 at IIIT Hyderabad’s Gachibowli campus.
- Who
- The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, is establishing CETLS, led by Vasudeva Varma; Raj Reddy and Sandeep Shukla are also involved in the announcement.
- What
- A research centre will study learning, cognitive skills and educational methods in the age of artificial intelligence.
- When
- The centre’s inaugural event is scheduled for September 5, 2026; the announcement was published September 4, 2026.
- Where
- The event will take place at IIIT Hyderabad’s Gachibowli campus.
- Why
- The institute wants to understand how AI is changing learning, improve human cognitive abilities and assess students more effectively when AI can generate answers.
AI Integration and Cognitive Development
Concerns About AI Dependence
Use of AI in classrooms
AI Integration and Cognitive Development
CETLS plans to avoid a blanket ban and instead help students develop cognitive skills while learning alongside AI.
Concerns About AI Dependence
The institute is concerned that generative AI can provide homework answers and immediately accessible information, potentially making traditional learning and assignments less meaningful.
Effect on human intelligence
AI Integration and Cognitive Development
CETLS leaders believe machine intelligence should help human intelligence grow through compassionate tools and intuitive learning methods.
Concerns About AI Dependence
Vasudeva Varma questioned whether human cognitive abilities could decline or stagnate as machine intelligence advances rapidly.
Assessing students
AI Integration and Cognitive Development
Studying real learning processes with schools could help researchers refine educational methods and develop better assessment approaches.
Concerns About AI Dependence
Sandeep Shukla said it is difficult to determine students’ knowledge and understanding through homework when generative AI can produce answers perfectly well.
- Centre
- Centre for Educational Technologies and Learning Sciences (CETLS)
- Institution
- International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad
- Learners covered
- Students up to Class 12, higher-education students, executives and older adults
- Approach to classroom AI
- The centre will not advocate a blanket ban on AI; it will focus on developing cognitive skills.
- Disciplines
- Psychology, learning sciences, cognitive science and technology
- Inaugural speaker
- Raj Reddy, founder of IIIT Hyderabad and an AI thought leader
- Event date and location
- September 5 at the institute’s Gachibowli campus