Integrating immersive technologies and generative AI in education: critical issues and future pathways

The field of education has seen a flurry of debates around the future and impact of immersive technologies i.e., Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Empirical studies are emerging, and researchers are coming to terms with how we should make the most of these latest technological innovations. In this article, we highlight a few critical aspects regarding the integration of immersive technologies and AI in education by considering possible entry points. Immersive technologies allow users to experience virtual objects superimposed to physical spaces (AR) or fully computer-generated virtual environments (VR). These digital technologies enable new forms of interactions since users can explore, manipulate, and redeploy both real and virtual objects in real time. Moreover, to support these interactions, AI could be used to power immersive experiences, or it could come in between users and the virtual objects to mediate their relationships in the guise of avatars or integrated bots. This is a very exciting future to look towards, but to get there, we need to consider teachers’ digital competences, develop the appropriate theoretical and practical frameworks to use these integrated technologies, understand the potential risks and to take on reflective and critical stances towards the implementation of XR in any educational context.