AI can teach rich kids better than most expensive private tutors: Vinod Khosla tells Nikhil Kamath

Indian-American billionaire and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla believes the future of education lies in artificial intelligence—and it’s closer than most think. Speaking to fellow billionaire entrepreneur and podcast host Nikhil Kamath on the future of AI in education, the Silicon Valley veteran said AI tutors could soon outperform even the most elite private educators, making world-class learning accessible to every child in India.

“If every child in India has a free AI tutor—which I hope happens in the next five years—that’s entirely possible today at a small fraction of the government’s education budget,” Khosla said. “And it’ll be better than the best education a rich person can offer their kids by hiring personal teachers.”

Khosla argued that AI’s potential to democratise education goes beyond affordability. It offers flexibility, continuity, and the ability to pivot across disciplines without the constraints of traditional institutions. “Whether it’s sixth-grade education or professional training, you’ll be able to do anything at any time,” he said, envisioning a future where switching from medicine to engineering wouldn’t require years of formal retraining.

The conversation also touched on broader implications of AI in public services. Khosla imagined a world where medical, legal, and financial expertise is universally accessible—powered by AI. “Most people in India can’t hire a lawyer to enforce their rights. That’s why we don’t have real justice,” he told the Zerodha co-founder, suggesting AI judges could help address systemic bottlenecks in the legal system.