A growing number of US public schools are moving from bans toward teaching students how to use artificial intelligence responsibly. In Charleston County, South Carolina, the district developed its own AI rules after consulting students, parents and teachers. Starting this year, teachers and middle- and high-school students will receive training on ethics, privacy, bias and the need to double-check AI outputs. Instructors use simple demos, such as asking a chatbot to create a world map that produces obvious errors, to show that AI tools often generate incorrect information. Utah became the first state to create a full-time AI education specialist role in 2024 and has already trained more than 7,000 teachers. Other states including Maine and Georgia are expanding similar efforts. Thirty-seven states have now published official AI guidance for schools. Experts say effective programs combine technical skills with lessons on ethics, fairness and knowing when not to rely on AI.
A growing number of US public schools are moving from bans toward teaching students how to use artificial intelligence responsibly. In Charleston County, South Carolina, the district developed its own AI rules after consulting students, parents and teachers. Starting this year, teachers and middle- and high-school students will receive training on ethics, privacy, bias and the need to double-check AI outputs. Instructors use simple demos, such as asking a chatbot to create a world map that produces obvious errors, to show that AI tools often generate incorrect information. Utah became the first state to create a full-time AI education specialist role in 2024 and has already trained more than 7,000 teachers. Other states including Maine and Georgia are expanding similar efforts. Thirty-seven states have now published official AI guidance for schools. Experts say effective programs combine technical skills with lessons on ethics, fairness and knowing when not to rely on AI.