What happened
Roughly half of the 45 candidates running for the Chicago school board have signed a pledge to adopt a three-year ban on artificial intelligence use by CPS students and educators. The pledge also calls for eliminating school screen time before third grade and limiting it in later grades. It demands that the district hire a chief privacy officer and ban the collection of student biometric data, such as voice recordings captured by literacy software.
The pledge was crafted by a local nonprofit and has been signed by 24 candidates running for the Chicago school board.
The pledge calls for a three-year ban on AI use in CPS schools, as well as the elimination of school screen time before third grade and the limitation of screen time in later grades.
The pledge also demands that the district hire a chief privacy officer and ban the collection of student biometric data, such as voice recordings captured by literacy software.
Some candidates have expressed concerns that an outright ban may be unproductive and limit the district's ability to teach kids how to navigate AI safely.
The district has stated that it remains committed to a responsible approach to AI use in schools, but has not taken a stance on the pledge.
Why it matters
The pledge is a response to growing concerns about the risks of AI in education, particularly in regards to student data privacy and the potential for AI to undermine critical thinking skills. The pledge has been signed by 24 candidates, but some have expressed concerns that an outright ban may be unproductive and limit the district's ability to teach kids how to navigate AI safely.
The pledge is a response to growing concerns about the risks of AI in education, particularly in regards to student data privacy and the potential for AI to undermine critical thinking skills.
The pledge has been signed by 24 candidates, but some have expressed concerns that an outright ban may be unproductive and limit the district's ability to teach kids how to navigate AI safely.
The district's approach to AI use in schools and the potential impact on student learning and data privacy are key concerns.
The pledge is part of a larger national trend of parents and educators pushing back against the use of AI in education.
The potential consequences of the pledge, including the impact on student learning and data privacy, are still unclear.
What to watch next
The Chicago school board election and the potential implementation of the pledge. The district's approach to AI use in schools and the potential impact on student learning and data privacy.
The Chicago school board election and the potential implementation of the pledge.
The district's approach to AI use in schools and the potential impact on student learning and data privacy.
The potential consequences of the pledge, including the impact on student learning and data privacy.
The national trend of parents and educators pushing back against the use of AI in education.
The potential for AI to undermine critical thinking skills and the importance of teaching kids how to navigate AI safely.