Estonia is once again leading the way in digital innovation — this time by bringing artificial intelligence (AI) directly into high school classrooms. A new government initiative called AI Leap 2025 is set to launch this September, providing 20,000 Estonian students with access to educational chatbots built specifically for learning.
Unlike commercial AI tools, the new system will be developed to support Estonia’s curriculum and language, acting as a personalised tutor that helps students engage, think critically, and build real skills, rather than simply spitting out answers. The project aims to bridge both the digital divide and socioeconomic gaps, offering all students equal access to smart learning support.
According to Siim Sikkut, one of the great minds behind the initiative, the real value lies not just in exposure to AI, but in learning how to use it ethically, effectively and critically. The program will also help students learn to navigate issues like misinformation and AI “hallucinations” — skills they’ll need not just in school, but in future workplaces.
🔗 Read the full article in IEEE Spectrum: 5 Questions: Siim Sikkut – Estonia is Bringing Educational Chatbots to Classrooms
Who is Siim Sikkut?
Siim Sikkut served as Estonia’s Chief Information Officer from 2017 to 2022, where he played a key role in shaping the country’s digital government, cybersecurity policy and tech infrastructure. He is now Managing Partner at Digital Nation, a consulting firm helping governments around the world to modernise and digitise public services.
Read more
🔗 Read more about the AI 2025 Leap program on e-Estonia in this article by Justin Petrone: AI Leap 2025: Estonia sets the global standard for AI in education
Acknowledgement
Our thanks to Dr Peter Muttik for bringing this article to our attention and helping us share it with the Estonian community in Australia.
