|By Gale Staff|
Fast Company’s 2026 Most Innovative Companies list names Cengage among the organizations shaping the future, recognizing our work in developing responsible, learning-focused artificial intelligence (AI) tools for education.
Since 2024, Cengage has significantly invested in AI across our portfolio and conducted extensive research to understand educator and student needs. Thousands of participants contributed feedback through pilots, surveys, and advisory boards to ensure positive learning outcomes.
One of the most visible results of that work is the AI Leveler, a tool developed by Gale, part of Cengage. Now available within Enriched, powered by Gale In Context (formerly Gale In Context: For Educators), the AI Leveler helps teachers adjust reading levels in trusted instructional content while preserving the core ideas and academic vocabulary students need to advance.
Meeting the Needs of Today’s Classrooms
In any given classroom, students read at different levels—sometimes with varying language backgrounds and learning needs. Guiding content without lowering expectations (or demanding extra prep work from educators) is transformative.
The AI Leveler maintains rigor while opening doors for students who might otherwise struggle to advance. The tool allows educators to quickly generate alternative reading levels for Gale articles while maintaining the integrity of the original content. Crucially, teachers remain in control of how the material is used—they select the content, review the results, and decide how to best deploy the materials with their students.
Feedback during AI Leveler beta testing suggests promising results:
- 90% of surveyed teachers preferred the AI Leveler to other solutions they had tried.
- 94% rated the quality of leveled content as good.
- 100% indicated that they would use the AI Leveler in the future.
Those results point to a clear need in classrooms: teachers want practical, effective AI tools that support rigorous instruction without adding unnecessary complexity.
Building AI Tools with Educators in Mind
Cengage has taken a research-driven approach to AI development. Since fall 2022, the company has engaged more than 8,500 participants in studies and pilot programs exploring how AI can support teaching and learning. More than 600 faculty advisors have contributed guidance during product development.
The AI Leveler emerged from this collaborative environment. Instead of applying a generic text-simplification system to educational content, the tool was designed specifically for instructional materials. Embedded within a trusted Gale resource and refined to maintain disciplinary nuance, the AI Leveler focuses on preserving the ideas, terminology, and context that students need to understand complex subjects.
The AI Leveler possesses a distinctive LLM-agnostic design. Rather than relying on a single large language model for every task, Cengage evaluates different models and selects the ones best suited for specific subjects and instructional goals.
For schools evaluating AI tools, design choices matter. Educators need technology that is not only innovative but also trustworthy and aligned with academic standards.
Scaling Personalization Without Increasing Workload
One of the most persistent tensions in education is the gap between aspiration and capacity. We know personalization improves engagement and outcomes. We also know teachers’ time is limited.
The AI Leveler helps close the gap. Embedded directly into Enriched, the AI Leveler works within existing instructional workflows. Teachers can select an article aligned to their lesson objectives and generate leveled versions efficiently—without searching external tools or rebuilding materials from scratch.
This streamlined process allows educators to focus on instruction rather than content preparation. Instead of rewriting texts, teachers can spend more time leading discussions, guiding analysis, and providing feedback.
Students benefit as well. When materials are scaffolded and presented at an appropriate reading level, they are more likely to stay engaged and understand key ideas. The core concepts remain consistent, ensuring all students participate in the conversation.
A Broader Vision for AI in Education
The AI Leveler is one example of a broader strategy across Cengage’s Learning Platforms. We continue to invest in technologies that guide learning, support instructors, and connect education with real-world skills.
Across K-12, these tools aim to enhance the instructor experience rather than replace it. The focus remains on improving outcomes while reducing unnecessary workloads for educators.
Recognition from Fast Company highlights the growing importance of this approach. As AI becomes more common in education, schools are looking for solutions that combine innovation with careful design and strong academic foundations. Educational AI tools must be both technologically advanced and deeply human.
Looking Ahead
AI is rapidly becoming part of the educational landscape. The question facing schools is not whether AI will influence classrooms, but how.
Our work with the AI Leveler offers a path forward—developing technology in partnership with educators, grounding innovation in research, and building tools that integrate naturally into teaching workflows.
Fast Company’s recognition places a spotlight on these efforts. Ultimately, though, the real impact will be measured in classrooms—where teachers gain practical tools to support instruction, and students encounter learning materials that meet them where they are.
Read more about this recognition in our full press release.
