This learning brief synthesises emerging evidence on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being deployed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Drawing from global case studies and existing analyses, it highlights that AI’s greatest potential lies in amplifying proven, evidence-based practices — structured pedagogy, targeted remediation, teacher support, and language-aligned materials. The brief identifies that the most scalable and sustainable uses of AI are system-facing — improving assessment, instructional planning, and content adaptation — rather than learner-facing. It also emphasises that human expertise remains central: effective AI integration depends on teacher judgement, contextualisation, and continuous training. Together, these insights outline a practical framework for using AI to accelerate foundational learning reforms through alignment with national priorities and the Science of Teaching principles. An output of the EdTech Hub, https://edtechhub.org/
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