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It’s that time of year again! As 2025 begins, it is an opportunity to review key achievements in immersive learning from 2024, examine how publishers utilized AR and AI, and highlight the innovations set to shape education in the coming year. But first, what stood out most in 2024?
One of the standout achievements of 2024 is how publishing partners using Ludenso's technology delivered an incredible 2 million 3D and AR learning experiences, an impressive leap from just 200,000 the year before. This remarkable growth largely stems from seamlessly embedding 3D content on the web, allowing publishers to blend rich immersive experiences into e-books, making these resources far more accessible to students.
The impact on students is undeniable: AR-powered learning drove a 41% improvement in grades compared to traditional methods. In Norway, students using Ludenso's AR solutions saw concept understanding jump from 60% to 90%, with boys achieving an astounding 100% improvement from 45% to 90%. These results highlight the transformative power of immersive technology in education.
The number of partners embracing immersive content continues to grow, with some of the industry’s biggest names producing educational titles powered by Ludenso’s AR platform. The lastest additions to the Ludenso family include:
Their collective learning resources span from science encyclopedias for children to academic journals and interactive e-books, all designed to engage learners more effectively, spark curiosity, and drive better learning outcomes.
Hard work in the immersive space drew significant recognition in 2024. Ludenso was featured on HolonIQ’s list of the most promising Nordic Edtech Companies (again!) and secured a position among the world's most innovative digital learning companies at ASU GSV. A collaboration with Macmillan even made it to the New York Times. Along with speaking engagements at the Taipei Book Fair and the London Book Fair, these honors underscore the publishing industry’s growing interest in immersive learning.
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It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. The next section examines both the breakthroughs and the stumbling blocks, along with key takeaways from exploring AR’s potential, handling policy shifts between digital and print, and adapting to evolving perspectives on AI.
In 2024, the debate evolved from “Should AI be used?” to “How should AI be used?” With 86% of university students already on board, Gen AI is effectively turning into the new Google Search. While over half of students worry about AI’s reliability, they still find it invaluable for research, brainstorming, and feedback. Simply because it gets the job done.
Publishers, too, are rapidly evolving from a stance of skepticism to a more proactive embrace of AI. Admittedly, caution is necessary: Wiley’s retraction of 11,000 articles and shutdown of 19 journals highlights the potential dangers. Yet with deeper insights into AI’s limitations, many publishers are discovering the technology’s capacity to enhance accuracy and efficiency. Conversations with more than 50 publishers reveal that AI is already being implemented as a cost-saving and productive asset throughout the industry:
Still, much of the current AI focus centers on productivity rather than truly personalized experiences. This gap presents a major opportunity for publishers to offer context-based learning solutions. By harnessing AI’s adaptability, publishers can reimagine education with interactive tools that meet learners at their level. Combining trusted content with AI-driven personalization is poised to be a transformative force in education.
Leading publishers, like Cambridge University Press, Karger, Porto Editora, and Macmillan, recognize that AR and 3D aren’t just tech buzzwords—they’re powerful tools to boost students’ understanding, engagement, and memory retention.
But let’s face it: AR has long been overshadowed by overblown promises and gimmicks that missed the mark on delivering real meaning. Think back to big moments like Magic Leap’s ambitious AR headset launch (and legendary crash), the metaverse craze, or the buzz around Microsoft’s Hololens. While they stirred excitement, many fell short of expectations. Yet, this frenzy of investment and experimentation has had a lasting positive impact: today, every modern smartphone and tablet is AR-ready, making the technology more usable, affordable, and accessible than ever before.
As the media hype and gimmick-focused coverage around AR have quieted, attention has shifted to its real value: empowering students, simplifying user experiences, and driving down costs. Publishers have seized this moment by embedding immersive experiences into their titles. In 2024 alone, those powered by Ludenso delivered 2 million learning experiences, showing that AR in education is hitting its stride and showing no signs of slowing down.
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Publishers from Europe and America have observed a similar trend: a push for “all-digital” followed by a sudden retreat to exclusively paper-based approaches. In Norway, where Ludenso is based, 1-to-1 device programs rolled out a decade ago with limited content strategy, leaving many teachers unfairly blamed for a perceived lack of digital skills. Meanwhile, concerns over screen time led to outright bans, often overlooking the benefits of positive technology use.
A more balanced approach offers a middle ground—combining the structured, focused benefits of textbooks with the digital skill-building offered by modern tools. This requires closer collaboration between publishers and technology providers, ensuring educators have access to a well-rounded mix of print and digital resources. Joint efforts to create comprehensive content will foster digital skills and prepare students for today’s workplace.
Reflecting on 2024 reveals valuable lessons from political swings to AI’s growing acceptance. These insights now set the stage for 2025, a year brimming with possibilities. In the following section, discover which technological opportunities lie ahead.
1. 3D & AR: Bringing Books to Life
Immersive learning skyrocketed in 2024, with publishers delivering over 2 million AR experiences powered by Ludenso, a tenfold increase in just one year. As 2025 unfolds, imagine biology lessons that let students explore a 3D eye or geography modules that enable virtual trips around the globe. The next question practically asks itself: With this explosive growth, how many students will reap the benefits this year? As new technologies become more affordable and intuitive, publishers are well-positioned to make 3D and AR cornerstones of education, transforming abstract concepts into hands-on learning opportunities.
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2. Personalized Education: Putting Learners First
AI is poised to reshape the educational landscape in 2025, moving beyond editorial efficiency into student-centric solutions embedded directly in publishers’ materials. Ludenso is kicking off the year with a high-profile launch in England, setting a bold precedent for individualized learning. Research has long shown that personalized tutoring can elevate learners to the top 95% of their class. However, scaling such individualized support has been a challenge, until now. AI can fill that gap, offering real-time feedback, and immediate assistance for students with diverse needs. Stay tuned for exciting updates from Ludenso in mid-January, and get ready to see AI-driven tutoring take center stage in the classroom
3. Educator Relief: Automated Tools
Most teachers point to administrative burdens—grading, attendance, scheduling—as some of their greatest challenges. AI is stepping in to alleviate many of these tasks, granting educators more time to focus on teaching. Publishers that integrate automated tools into their content are likely to become indispensable allies to schools and universities, streamlining processes for everyone involved.
4. AI Fluency: The New Core Competency
AI now pervades virtually every aspect of modern life, making digital literacy non-negotiable. Students need to understand how AI operates, where it falls short, and how to critically evaluate outputs. Publishers can embed these lessons into their digital solutions, ensuring future generations possess both technical know-how and the critical thinking necessary to navigate AI’s ethical and cognitive challenges.
Reflecting on 2024’s milestones, where AR adoption surged tenfold and AI evolved from hype to real-world application, it's clear that education technology is entering an exciting new phase. The past year showed that immersive and AI-driven solutions can genuinely improve learning outcomes, but it also underscored the complexity of delivering these innovations at scale. Publishers that blend trusted content with personalized tools stand to reshape the future of education.
Looking ahead to 2025, there’s never been a better time to seize the opportunities that AR and AI offer, while maintaining high standards for student privacy, content accuracy, and educational quality. Yet achieving these goals at the speed of modern technology is no small feat. That’s why forward-thinking publishers are partnering with Ludenso.
Thank you for reading, and for being a part of this transformative journey in shaping the future of education.
On behalf of the Ludenso Team,
Ingrid F. Skrede
Co-Founder and CMO
ingrid@ludenso.com
