The Four Stages of AI Integration in Education
Casey K. Sacks
January 12, 2026
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept; it’s already reshaping how we live, work, and learn. But in education, the path forward isn’t linear. Some educators embrace AI enthusiastically, others reject it outright, and many more find themselves in the middle, still seeking to find the right balance between these two approaches.
In a sense, AI bursting onto the scene has sent educators into a “psychological stage framework” similar to the Kubler-Ross five stages of grief, or Tuckman’s stages of group development. Viewing AI adoption in education in a stage framework can help make sense of the emotional responses, practical judgments, and profound transformation that continues to follow the advent of AI. Using this framework as an analogy offers a roadmap for where we are, and where we could go.
