The teaching profession is in crisis. Burnout rates among educators are soaring, with K-12 teachers being some of the most overburdened professionals in the U.S. today. What many don’t realize is that much of this burnout stems from the hidden workload teachers face.
This situation is compounded by the fact that the average teacher uses over 140 different digital tools throughout the school year. Juggling this fragmented ecosystem of apps and platforms adds to the stress, leaving educators with little time for what really matters: engaging with students.
But there’s hope on the horizon. Artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful ally for educators, capable of automating many of these time-consuming tasks and freeing up hours each week. In particular, tools like Brisk Teaching’s AI-powered Chrome extension and its new student-facing feature, Brisk Boost, are reshaping the education landscape.
Teacher Burnout and the Hidden Workload
Burnout among teachers has reached alarming levels. According to a recent Gallup poll, K-12 teachers are experiencing the highest rates of burnout among all professions in the United States. This isn’t just about classroom management; the true burden comes from the hidden workload that many outside the profession are unaware of.
Grading assignments, preparing lesson plans, managing student feedback, emailing parents, and attending professional development meetings all pile up behind the scenes. Teachers often spend more time on these tasks than they do teaching in the classroom. The result? High levels of stress and an increasing number of teachers leaving the profession.
How AI Can Be a Solution
Across various industries, AI has already proven its ability to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, boosting productivity and efficiency. The same potential exists in education, where AI can take over the labor-intensive tasks that weigh teachers down.
Yet, the solution isn’t as simple as just throwing new tools into the mix. Teachers already navigate a sea of educational apps, platforms, and tools each year. If AI is going to make a meaningful impact, it must integrate seamlessly into the tools teachers are already using, without adding additional complexity or creating a steeper learning curve.
Brisk Teaching’s AI-Powered Solution
This is where Brisk Teaching comes in. Brisk Teaching is an AI Edtech startup that just announced its seed round, led by Owl Ventures, which brings their total funding to $6.9 million dollars.
Brisk Teaching’s AI-powered Chrome extension is not another tool teachers have to manage—it’s a solution that works within their existing platforms to automate tasks they’re already doing. It speeds up routine activities like grading, lesson planning, and even creating new content from the materials teachers already use.
For example, Brisk Teaching’s tools can turn a news article, YouTube video, or Google Slides presentation into a dynamic, interactive learning experience with just a few clicks. Teachers can also automate feedback on student writing, drastically reducing the time spent on grading essays. The result is a system that saves teachers up to 20 hours of work each week, freeing up time for what matters most: personalized engagement with students.
But Brisk Teaching isn’t just about helping teachers—it’s about empowering students too. The newly launched Brisk Boost feature allows students to use AI in safe, controlled activities that are linked directly to their lesson objectives. By functioning as a personal tutor, Brisk Boost adapts to each student’s unique needs, offering real-time feedback, interactive quizzes, and brainstorming support. All of this helps students stay engaged while giving teachers valuable insights into how well their students are grasping the material.
Real-World Impact: Success and Adoption
The impact of Brisk Teaching’s solution has been swift and significant. Since launching just over a year ago, the company has grown rapidly, with over 500,000 teachers—one in ten in the U.S.—now using the AI-powered Chrome extension. These tools have already saved educators over 10 million hours globally, proving that AI can make a meaningful difference in the classroom.
Educators who have adopted Brisk’s solutions report not only time savings but also improved student outcomes. For example, by automating repetitive tasks, teachers have more time to focus on individual student needs and can offer more personalized instruction. At the same time, Brisk Boost has helped engage students with content in new and interactive ways, leading to greater participation and comprehension.
“Brisk Teaching is an incredible AI tool. It serves as a blueprint for instant student feedback – which you can edit on the spot,” explained Chrissy Macso, a middle school English teacher at Old Trail School in Ohio. “If this would have come out years ago, more teachers would likely be feeling way less burnout. You can tell this is a product made by teachers for teachers. They thought of everything. If you’re a teacher and haven’t tried this tool, do it.”
The Future of AI in Education
As the adoption of AI in education continues to grow, we’re witnessing a shift in attitudes. What was once viewed with skepticism—particularly when tools like ChatGPT first hit the scene—is now being embraced by teachers as a way to enhance both their own productivity and the learning experience of their students.
Arman Jaffer, CEO of Brisk Teaching, shared, “We talk to teachers and school administrators every day to understand what’s top of mind for them. It’s been interesting to see how attitudes have changed rapidly about generative AI. Many we talk to have shifted from ‘Ban it,’ to ‘How can teachers use this?’ to ‘How can schools use AI to engage students and teach them the skills of the future?’”
This shift is a testament to the value AI brings in creating more personalized learning experiences. Tools like Brisk Boost, which adapt to each student’s needs, represent the future of differentiated learning. Rather than treating all students the same, AI allows teachers to tailor their instruction to better suit the unique learning styles and abilities of their students.
Empowering Educators for the Future
The benefits of AI in education go far beyond simple time savings. By automating the most tedious and time-consuming tasks, AI is empowering teachers to focus on what truly matters—engaging with students and fostering a better learning environment. Solutions like Brisk Teaching’s AI-powered Chrome extension and Brisk Boost are not only helping to alleviate teacher burnout but also paving the way for a more sustainable and effective future for education.
It is clear that AI is not just a passing trend—it’s a transformative technology that will shape the future of education for years to come. Teachers, administrators, and policymakers should embrace AI tools that integrate seamlessly with existing systems, saving time and enhancing the learning experience. With AI as an ally, educators can finally find the balance they’ve been seeking between managing administrative tasks and delivering quality education to their students.
