Trump Proposes New Executive Order to Incorporate Artificial Intelligence into Kindergarten-12th Grade Instruction
Schools in the US frequently lack essentials like pencils and paper, while the new Education Secretary aims to follow President Trump's promise of less federal intervention in education, except for funding cuts to universities that violate free speech rights.
However, when it comes to AI, a new draft executive order could change the game. This order intends to boost AI usage in classrooms by directing federal funds towards fostering "AI literacy" among students and teachers.
Titled "Advancing artificial intelligence education for American youth," the order sees AI as driving innovation across industries, enhancing productivity, and revolutionizing how we live and work. It seeks to equip the nation's youth with skills needed to utilize and create the next generation of AI technology.
In response to China's recent plans to integrate AI into their classrooms, the Trump administration is drafting this order. The two nations are fiercely competing to maintain a lead in the artificial intelligence race, with the hope that doing so will safeguard their global influence.
The new executive order would establish a White House task force on AI education, including tech sector representatives like Michael Kratsios and David Sacks. In line with the draft order, federal agencies would collaborate with industry, academia, and nonprofits to teach students basic AI skills and critical thinking.
The order would encourage the use of federal grants for AI programs and prioritize spending on AI education. It also directs the Education Secretary, Linda McMahon, to prioritize grant funding for teacher training on AI integration. All educators would be required to undergo professional development to incorporate AI into various subjects.
However, some experts question the effectiveness of integrating AI into schools, especially since a study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found that over-reliance on AI could undermine critical thinking skills. New programmers might become overly dependent on AI, potentially sacrificing fundamental knowledge required for problem-solving or formulating better solutions.
While AI has potential benefits, such as quickly searching through large amounts of data or translating old texts into English, concerns remain about schools' ability to implement AI correctly. Many educators struggle to keep students engaged, and there are concerns that they may not understand how AI truly works or be adequately prepared to manage it effectively.
The disconnect became evident when Education Secretary McMahon recently mistook the term "artificial intelligence" for "A1" steak sauce.
The executive order, still in draft form and subject to change, aims to remedy this situation by providing students and teachers with early and comprehensive exposure to AI concepts, aiming to keep the US at the forefront of AI advancements and maintain its global competitiveness. [Source: Washington Post]
Key aspects of the executive order include federal agency involvement, public-private partnerships, a cross-agency task force, early exposure to AI in education, and apprenticeships to increase the number of AI-skilled Americans. [Source: Enrichment Data]
- Gizmodo reported on a new draft executive order aiming to boost AI usage in classrooms, titled "Advancing artificial intelligence education for American youth."
- The order seeks to establish a White House task force on AI education, involving tech sector representatives like Michael Kratsios and David Sacks.
- Some experts question the effectiveness of integrating AI into schools, citing concerns about over-reliance on AI potentially undermining critical thinking skills.
- Key aspects of the executive order include federal agency involvement, public-future partnerships, a cross-agency task force, early exposure to AI in education, and apprenticeships to increase the number of tech-skilled Americans.
