China has introduced an Artificial Intelligence (AI) course in elementary schools to familiarise children with AI from a younger age.
Beginning this autumn semester, primary and secondary schools in Beijing will incorporate a minimum of eight hours of AI education per academic year. Children as young as six will learn to use chatbots and other AI tools, gain a foundational understanding of the technology, and explore AI ethics.
According to a report published in Fortune, schools will be able to teach artificial intelligence lessons as a separate subject or in combination with subjects such as information technology and science.
Authorities in Beijing are also considering exploring opportunities for more cooperation between universities and secondary schools to train future experts in the field of artificial intelligence.
China’s artificial intelligence industry gained global attention earlier this year when a Chinese company, Deep Seek, made its mark in global markets by releasing a new and advanced version of its AI chatbot.
The company developed the R1 model for just $5.6 million, and as a result, it is being offered free of charge, which has dealt a severe blow to an American company’s monopoly in the artificial intelligence industry.
Countries like Canada and South Korea have embraced advanced AI technology in K-12 education, utilising AI-driven digital textbooks and programs that assist teachers in incorporating AI into their lessons.
In the UK, a private school unveiled a “teacherless” classroom last year, where about 20 students engaged in learning through virtual reality headsets and AI platforms instead of conventional teaching methods. Additionally, in 2024, the American education provider McGraw Hill introduced two generative AI tools for classrooms—AI Reader, which annotates digital books, and Writing Assistant, which offers specific feedback during the writing process.
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