AI and the Future of Learning: A Commentary on Amir Nathoo’s Vision

The future of learning isn’t just about access, it’s about engagement, personalization, and transformation. As Amir Nathoo, CEO of Outschool, shared in his conversation on the Eric Ries Show, AI is poised to redefine how we think about education, making it more adaptive, learner-driven, and community-powered. At Disco, we share this vision and are building an AI-first learning platform that transforms static content into living knowledge.

AI as a Learning Partner, Not a Replacement

Amir highlights an essential truth: AI isn’t here to replace human interaction in education, it’s here to enhance it. The value of human-to-human interaction remains irreplaceable, but AI can supercharge the learning experience by making it more personalized and responsive. At Disco, we’ve embedded this philosophy into our core AI agents (coming soon), designed to assist rather than dictate. These intelligent agents work in harmony with communities of learners, ensuring that education is not just consumed but experienced and evolved over time.

Engagement Over Everything

One of the most compelling points Amir makes is the prioritization of engagement as the key metric for success. Learning isn’t about passive content delivery, it’s about interaction, curiosity, and retention. At Disco, we believe Social Learning is at the core of this success, where every piece of content sparks conversations, every learner has the opportunity to mentor, and every interaction strengthens the collective intelligence of the group. The future of education will belong to platforms that don’t just provide content but create networked learning experiences that grow richer with each participant.

AI and Learner Autonomy

Amir’s journey in education was shaped by self-driven projects, a principle that Outschool embeds into its model. AI has the power to take this concept even further by enabling adaptive learning paths that adjust in real-time based on a learner’s needs, interests, and progress. At Disco, we believe in AI-first design that ensures learners are in control - where technology supports autonomy rather than enforcing rigid pathways.

The Disruption Traditional Models Need

Another key takeaway from Amir’s conversation is the systemic resistance to disruption in education. Traditional models often slow down innovation due to rigid structures and outdated incentives. However, the shift is happening. AI and modern design are democratizing knowledge-sharing, allowing educators, businesses, and learning organizations to create transformational learning programs without the constraints of legacy systems.

AI + Community = The Future of Learning

As Amir rightly points out, the role of AI in education isn’t about replacing human connection, it’s about amplifying it.

At Disco, we see AI and community as two sides of the same coin. AI brings efficiency, personalization, and insight. Community provides meaning, mentorship, and motivation. When combined, they create an educational experience that is more than the sum of its parts - one that is dynamic, evolving, and deeply engaging.

The future of learning isn’t something we need to wait for - it’s something we are building right now. AI is not just a tool; it’s an accelerant for meaningful, lifelong learning. And as leaders in this space, we must continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

At Disco, we’re committed to making knowledge come alive, ensuring that learning remains not just relevant but revolutionary. Amir’s insights remind us why this mission is so critical and how AI can help us get there faster.

About Amir

Amir Nathoo is the Co-Founder and CEO of Outschool, an education platform offering live online classes for K-12 learners. Amir’s own childhood inspired Outschool — while he went to traditional schools, his parents always encouraged his self-driven coding projects at home.

Outschool is about empowering kids to take control of their learning and building a lifelong love for education. It’s a mission-driven company that’s impacting how we think about education and social change.

Catch the episode with Amir on the Eric Ries Show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Want to learn more about Disco? Start a free trial to experience the power of our AI-first learning platform or book a demo to learn how it could work for your use case.