SHERIDAN, WYOMING – April 14, 2026 – ETS, the nonprofit organization behind some of the world's most widely used standardized tests, is making artificial intelligence central to the future of educational and professional assessment. With more than 75 years of experience in what it calls the science of measurement, ETS is now actively harnessing AI to build fairer, more valid benchmarks for evaluating skills and knowledge. The push touches millions of learners worldwide — from university applicants preparing for the GRE to professionals demonstrating workplace English fluency through the TOEIC — and signals a broader shift in how credentials and competencies will be recognized in a rapidly changing world.
AI at the Center of Assessment Innovation
ETS describes its mission as enabling lifelong learners to be "future ready," and artificial intelligence is now the primary tool it is deploying to advance that goal. The organization's focus is on developing assessments that are both rigorously fair and demonstrably valid — qualities that have always defined its approach but that are increasingly difficult to sustain as learning environments, communication standards, and job market requirements evolve at pace. By embedding AI into its research and product development, ETS aims to make its tests more responsive to how people actually learn, communicate, and perform today. The ETS Research Institute is leading much of this work, with dedicated teams focused on innovation in skill measurement and a stated commitment to equity and opportunity for all.
A Portfolio Used by Millions Worldwide
ETS operates one of the broadest assessment portfolios in global education. The TOEFL remains the premier test of English communication in academic settings, relied upon by universities and admissions offices across more than 160 countries. The TOEIC is described as the world's leading assessment for English communication in the workplace, influencing hiring and promotion decisions at companies across industries. The GRE is widely respected internationally as the standard benchmark for admission to graduate and professional programs. The Praxis series is designed for educators, measuring the knowledge and skills needed before entering the classroom. Beyond individual tests, ETS also works with businesses, institutions, and governments through its ETS Solutions division — offering credentialing services built on decades of research, talent and workforce tools, and customized partnership programs designed to deliver what the organization describes as actionable data tailored to specific organizational needs.
The Research Institute's Long-Term Role
The ETS Research Institute functions as the organization's engine for sustained innovation, with teams dedicated to education research, measurement methodology, and global capacity building. Its work extends beyond academic papers: research findings directly shape how ETS products are developed, updated, and validated over time. A recent ETS publication titled "Charting the Future of Assessments" signals the organization's intent to define the direction of the measurement field rather than simply react to it. This research-first foundation is central to how ETS differentiates its assessments from commercially developed alternatives and maintains credibility with universities, employers, and governments worldwide.
Why It Matters
For students and working professionals, the stakes here are concrete. Tests like the TOEFL and GRE function as gatekeepers to some of the most competitive universities and graduate programs in the world, while the TOEIC shapes real employment and advancement decisions at the organizational level. When the science underpinning those tests improves — particularly in areas like fairness, accuracy, and adaptability — the outcomes they determine become more equitable for the people being assessed. ETS CEO Amit Sevak has framed the organization's purpose in direct terms: "When learning becomes visible, opportunity becomes possible - because progress begins with measurement. That is the work ETS stands for." As AI continues to reshape both education and the workplace, the systems used to recognize and verify skills will carry more weight than ever — making the quality of measurement not just a technical question, but a question of access and opportunity.
As that pressure grows, ETS is positioning itself as the institution best placed to get the answer right.
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