Google DeepMind published findings on June 9, 2026, from an eight-week randomized controlled trial evaluating AI learning tools in Sierra Leone. Conducted in partnership with Fab AI and supported by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Education, the trial evaluated how Guided Learning in Gemini affected the math progress of 1,763 junior secondary students across 12 schools in Port Loko District.
Google DeepMind stated that additional support came from Google.org and the Gates Foundation, with EducAid, Laterite, and Oxford MeasurEd collaborating on the project. The Sierra Leone Ministry of Education noted that the evidence demonstrates carefully designed AI can help improve learning outcomes in support of teachers.
Trial Results and Math Scores
Quantitatively, students using Guided Learning achieved a gain of +0.258 standard deviations in math scores relative to the control group. Google DeepMind reported that this shift represents roughly 1.2 to 1.7 years of typical learning progress within eight weeks. In classrooms where teachers incorporated Gemini into approximately half their lessons to reach a 12-hour target, student gains reached roughly 1.8 to 2.5 years of progress.
Student usage targets were met or exceeded by 69% of participants. Queries from students also shifted over time. Skill-building queries rose from 68% in the first week to 90% by the final week, while solution-seeking questions fell from 25% to 10%.
Pedagogical Interactions and Teacher Support
An analysis of more than 113,000 interactions during the trial showed students used the tool to build conceptual understanding in 91.4% of conversations. Gemini responded with scaffolding questions in 76% of its messages and provided direct solutions in only 2% of cases.
Teachers utilized the tool for lesson preparation and led classroom discussions during the trial. Google DeepMind released a teacher training guide created with Fab AI, as well as a research playbook detailing its trial methodology. Google DeepMind noted that students who entered the trial with stronger math skills benefited the most, pointing to an ongoing effort to address the achievement gap as it expands additional trials globally and supports the Global AI for Learning Alliance.
