UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday said that artificial intelligence (AI) must never replace the essential human elements of learning, and called on states to keep humanity at the centre of education systems.

In his message on the International Day of Education, which falls on Jan. 24, Guterres said that today's rapid technological breakthroughs, like AI, hold enormous promise to support students of all ages across their learning journeys.

"But the tremendous rewards are matched by some daunting risks. As AI-driven systems become more powerful, human intention and machine-driven impacts can easily misalign," he added.

This year's International Day of Education reminds that unlocking the potential of AI also depends on keeping human agency and human rights at the heart of this rapidly evolving technology, the UN chief noted.

"Artificial Intelligence must never replace the essential human elements of learning," Guterres underscored. "On this important day, let's commit to keeping humanity at the centre of education systems, everywhere." ■