This education startup is using AI to help students learn. It says tech should never replace human teachers

Eugene Kashuk, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, founded Brighterly in 2021 to address the education gap, particularly in math, that widened during the pandemic. Brighterly is a platform that connects students in the US with math teachers from around the world for private tutoring at an affordable rate of $20 per 45-minute lesson. The platform uses AI to generate lessons, allowing teachers to focus on their students rather than creating problem sets and exams. Brighterly has a rigorous hiring process, accepting only 3% of applicants, and has developed its own custom methodology and curriculum. The platform's lessons are interactive, gamified, and aligned with school curricula, aiming to achieve academic results quickly. Kashuk emphasizes that AI is used to support teachers, not replace them, as human interaction is essential in education. AI is used to generate content, such as images and ideas, but not to determine what to teach. Kashuk believes that AI can lighten the load for teachers, allowing them to focus on decision-making and nurturing emotional bonds with students. Brighterly plans to expand its services to include reading lessons and high school products to address the growing knowledge gap.