Education Futures Rethinking assessment in the age of AI
What does it mean to assess learning in a world where AI can generate answers instantly?
In this episode of Education Futures, Svenia Busson is joined by Alina von Davier, Chief of Assessment at Duolingo, and Elie Bechara, who works on institutional partnerships for the Duolingo English Test.
Together, they bring a rare combination of assessment science, product innovation, and real-world university dynamics.
As AI tools become widely accessible, traditional forms of assessment, especially high-stakes exams, are being fundamentally challenged.
If students can generate answers with AI, what are we actually measuring?
In this conversation, we explore:
• Why AI is putting pressure on the validity of traditional exams
• How universities are responding to new questions around academic integrity and admissions
• The shift from testing knowledge → competencies and skills
• Why assessment needs to become more continuous, contextual, and embedded in learning
• How the Duolingo English Test is rethinking language assessment using AI
• The importance of designing assessments that reflect real-world performance, not artificial test conditions
We also discuss how assessment can evolve from a moment of evaluation into a tool for learning itself — providing feedback, guiding progress, and supporting long-term skill development.
The challenge ahead is about redefining what we value, what we measure, and what we trust in education.
To explore further what was discussed in the episode: