In April 2025, Brazil took an important step towards democratizing artificial intelligence in public education with the launch of the IA.EDU Institute and the first Unesco Chair dedicated to Artificial Intelligence in Unplugged Education. With the support of the Tellescom Foundation, the initiative seeks to offer accessible AI solutions for educational contexts with low connectivity and limited infrastructure
An institute to transform public education
On April 14, the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), through the Center of Excellence in Social Technologies (NEES), officially created the IA.EDU Institute.
At the same ceremony, the first Unesco Chair in Brazil focused exclusively on Artificial Intelligence applied to Unplugged Education was inaugurated.
The Tellescom Foundation was one of the event’s supporters, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive public education that is innovative and connected to the real needs of Brazilian schools – especially those that face limitations in terms of infrastructure and access to technology.
“We believe that accessible and inclusive AI solutions are key to democratizing learning. That’s why supporting IA.EDU is a natural step in our work towards educational transformation,” – Américo Mattar, CEO of the Tellescom Foundation.
The event brought together authorities, renowned researchers and representatives of partner institutions, in a milestone of articulation between academia, the public sector and organizations dedicated to educational innovation.
During the ceremony, solutions already developed by NEES were presented, such as:
- Automated essay correction applications;
- Tools for monitoring student performance in mathematics.
All the solutions are designed to work even in environments with technological restrictions.
Democratizing AI: a commitment to inclusion
The IA.EDU Institute was born with the aim of creating technological solutions that work in contexts with limited infrastructure, promoting the pedagogical use of artificial intelligence in an unplugged way – that is, without relying exclusively on the internet or expensive equipment.
The challenge of infrastructure in Brazil
The reality of Brazilian public schools still poses major challenges:
- Only 29% of state and municipal schools have computers, notebooks or tablets available for students to use. Source: ICT Education Survey 2022 – CGI.br
- 40% of public schools continue to face difficulties in accessing quality internet. Source: School Connectivity Report – MEC 2023 (gov.br)
In this scenario, the launch of IA.EDU and the Unesco Chair represents a milestone in strengthening Brazil’s leading role in research and innovation in AI applied to education.
Tellescom Foundation: technology with purpose
By supporting these initiatives, the Tellescom Foundation is reaffirming its history of working for public education, especially through continuing teacher training.
More than a one-off partnership, this is the realization of a shared vision: Technology at the service of equity, breaking down historical barriers and promoting real learning opportunities for all.
And this is only possible with educators who are prepared, valued and able to use these tools in favor of their students and communities.
Technical note: AI and the future of basic education
The Foundation also supported the launch of the Technical Note: “What would be the impact on Basic Education if Bill 2338/2023 were approved today?”
The result of a partnership between NEES, IA.EDU and the Tellescom Foundation, the document aims to encourage debate on Artificial Intelligence in basic education, producing materials aligned with the reality of teachers and school managers.
📄 To access the Technical Note and other materials produced, go to:
👉 Tellescom Foundation – Official Publications (insert real link afterwards)