Bavaria’s Minister of Science, Markus Blume, stated that artificial intelligence is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a “must-do” for universities, as institutions across Germany and Austria increasingly adopt AI-supported teaching methods. The statement, made during a visit to the Technical University of Munich (TUM) on November 18, 2025, followed the presentation of initial results from the research project “AIffectiveness in Education.”
At TUM, researchers have developed OneTutor, an AI tutor software currently used in over 620 lectures at 30 universities across Germany and Austria, with more than 21,000 active users. The software aims to support students by answering questions and providing tailored quizzes. The project originated from a student internship and was subsequently refined by Professor Alexander Pretschner of TUM’s Software & Systems Engineering department, who co-founded a company to further develop the technology in May 2025.
The growing integration of AI in higher education is not limited to Germany. Globally, educators are exploring AI tools to enhance teaching and learning. Google, for example, is focusing on developing AI solutions for the classroom, emphasizing a human-centered design approach and responsible AI practices. The company highlights the potential of AI to augment teachers’ capabilities, freeing up time for professional development and individualized student support.
Several platforms are emerging to facilitate the use of AI in education. Eduaide.Ai offers tools for creating graphic organizers, educational games, lesson plans, and instructional materials. To-teach.ai focuses on generating practice exercises and personalizing educational content. These platforms provide educators with resources to adapt existing materials, incorporating texts, images, videos, and online articles. To-teach.ai currently offers over 800 pre-made exercises and worksheets across various subjects.
Google’s Gemini is presented as an AI assistant designed to help teachers save time, generate ideas, and create diverse learning solutions. The company is also integrating AI-powered features into YouTube and Google Classroom, including automatically generated questions for YouTube videos and automated feedback within Google Classroom assignments. Chromebook Plus, a more affordable and AI-capable device, is also being promoted as a tool for both teachers and staff.
The focus on AI in education extends beyond higher education. Google emphasizes the potential for AI to personalize learning by adapting to each student’s skills and needs, offering customized tasks and real-time feedback. The company also highlights the security features of its tools, including protection against phishing and malware.
Minister Blume cautioned against inaction, stating that the greatest danger with AI is “not getting involved,” and advocating for the use of technology as a support system with actively set guidelines. The TUM research project continues to investigate the effectiveness of AI systems in supporting student learning, with no definitive conclusions yet publicly released.
