It is close to midnight and a JEE aspirant is struggling with a difficult physics problem. The teacher is unavailable, coaching classes ended hours ago and the pressure of a highly competitive examination looms large.

Instead of waiting for help, the student opens an AI chatbot. Within seconds, a detailed explanation appears, accompanied by shortcuts, common mistakes and a fresh set of practice questions tailored to the concept.

For millions of students, this scenario is no longer futuristic. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an everyday learning companion, raising a question that is now being debated in homes and coaching centres across India: Can AI replace traditional coaching institutes?

AI Is Becoming Smarter Than Ever

The discussion has intensified as AI systems continue to deliver impressive performances in some of the world’s toughest entrance examinations.

South Korean startup GPAI recently claimed that its AI system achieved the equivalent of 351 marks out of 360 on JEE Advanced 2025 questions, surpassing the top human score of 332.

Independent evaluations on JEE Advanced 2026 papers have reportedly produced even stronger results, with some frontier AI models scoring between 345 and 351 marks while completing the paper in under two hours. Human candidates are allotted six hours.

Unlike earlier AI systems designed primarily for information retrieval, the latest models can tackle complex, multi-step reasoning problems and provide personalised support. Students are already using them to clear doubts instantly, generate practice questions, identify weaknesses and build customised study plans.

Career coach Pradeep Jain believes AI has fundamentally transformed access to knowledge.

“Today’s students can get instant explanations, create practice questions, assess performance gaps and even develop customised study plans in seconds. These abilities have made learning more accessible, affordable and tailored than ever before,” he said.

However, Jain cautions against assuming that coaching centres will disappear anytime soon.

Why Human Teachers Still Hold An Edge

According to experts, success in examinations such as JEE, NEET, UPSC and CLAT requires much more than academic knowledge.

“Success in high-stakes exams depends on much more than academic content. It requires discipline, consistency, motivation, peer competition, emotional resilience and strategic guidance, areas where human mentors still play a vital role,” Jain said.

For decades, coaching institutes have provided structure, accountability and emotional support in addition to classroom teaching.

“Coaching institutes have traditionally offered structured learning environments that help students stay focused and accountable. They also provide emotional support during stressful times and failure, something AI cannot fully replicate,” he added.

Manmohan Gupta, IIT Delhi alumnus and co-founder of Vidyamandir Classes, also believes physical classrooms are unlikely to disappear in the near future.

“At least over the next three years, AI will not be able to replace a classroom environment where a teacher is physically present and teaching students,” Gupta said.

According to him, AI’s biggest contribution will be personalisation.

“Every child needs different kinds of help. Some students need concepts explained in greater detail, while others need to progress gradually from easier questions to difficult ones. AI can generate personalised content and personalised support at a scale that humans simply cannot,” he said.

Yet Gupta argues that great teachers derive their strength not merely from subject expertise but from their ability to build emotional connections with students.

“The teachers who will thrive are those who can build emotional connections with students, mentor them and guide them through non-academic challenges. AI is still far from being able to replicate that human bond,” he said.

Future Of Education May Be A Partnership

Rather than replacing coaching institutes, experts believe AI is likely to transform them.

Many institutions are already incorporating AI-driven analytics, adaptive testing and personalised learning tools into their programmes. Teachers, too, are beginning to use AI to create assignments, solve questions faster and provide more targeted support.

Gupta believes AI will ultimately amplify the effectiveness of good teachers rather than replace them.

“Teachers will be able to use AI to solve questions faster, create customised assignments and provide more targeted support. In many ways, AI will help good teachers teach more effectively and reach more students,” he said.

Pradeep Jain shares a similar view.

“The future of education is unlikely to be a battle between AI and coaching institutes; instead, it will probably be a partnership,” he said.

Just as calculators did not eliminate mathematics teachers and computers did not replace schools, AI is unlikely to bring an end to coaching centres. Instead, it is expected to redefine their role.

As India moves from the era of Kota to the era of ChatGPT, the future of learning may belong not to technology or traditional coaching alone, but to those who successfully combine the strengths of both.

In the age of artificial intelligence, the importance of great teachers may become more apparent, not less.

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