Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
New York City is set to ban students in public schools from using artificial intelligence through Class 8, with AI use to be permitted only in high school and for limited purposes, according to a source close to the matter who spoke to AFP on Wednesday.
The move comes amid growing concerns among teachers and parents about the impact of AI on children’s mental health, cognitive development and learning habits. Environmental concerns linked to artificial intelligence have also added to the debate around its use in schools.
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USAGE OF AI TO BE RESTRICTED UNTIL CLASS 8
Under the new rules, students in New York City’s public schools will not be allowed to use AI through eighth grade. In the US education system, eighth graders are typically around 13 years old.
AI will be allowed from ninth grade, when students enter high school, but its use will be restricted to specific purposes, including learning about the technology itself, the source said.
According to the New York Times, the rules will also prohibit students from using AI “companion chatbots” that offer psychological support.
Teachers, however, will be permitted to use AI for certain tasks, including preparing lessons and drafting messages. New York City Hall and the city’s education department did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
WHY ARE PARENTS AND TEACHERS CONCERNED ABOUT AI?
The decision follows growing concerns over how early exposure to AI could affect children.
Teachers and parents have raised questions about the potential impact of AI tools on children’s mental health and cognitive development. There are also concerns that excessive reliance on AI could affect how students think, learn and complete schoolwork independently.
The use of AI-powered chatbots for emotional or psychological support has emerged as another area of concern, particularly for younger students.
Environmental concerns surrounding the energy and resources required to operate AI systems have also contributed to the wider debate over their use in schools.
NEW YORK HAD EARLIER PROPOSED A MORE FLEXIBLE AI POLICY
The latest restrictions mark a significant shift from New York City’s earlier approach. In March, the city’s education department published an initial framework that used a traffic-light system to determine when and how students could use AI.
The framework allowed students to use AI for activities such as research, exploration and creative projects. However, the approach faced strong opposition from several parents and teachers, who considered the proposed rules too lenient.
Following the backlash, schools chancellor Kamar Samuels said that education leaders had “missed the mark” in communicating the policy. He also said his office would carefully review feedback from parents and incorporate it into future rules.
The education department had previously said that the March framework was intended to be followed by a more comprehensive “guidebook” that would take feedback into account.
HOW WILL AI USE BE MONITORED?
One of the biggest challenges for schools will be monitoring students’ AI use.
The city’s education department recommends limiting screen time in classrooms to 45 minutes for middle school students, covering sixth through eighth grade, and 30 minutes for elementary school students.
However, AI tools can be accessed outside the classroom and often through personal devices, making it difficult for schools to completely monitor or restrict their use.
This raises questions about how the new policy will be enforced, particularly when students can access AI tools at home or on devices that are not controlled by schools.
NEW YORK PLANS TASK FORCE ON AI IN SCHOOLS
The education department will also establish a task force comprising teachers, elected officials, experts and union representatives. The task force is expected to produce a report in April, which will serve as a basis for New York’s broader policy on AI in schools.
The policy is being closely watched across the US because New York City operates by far the country’s largest public school district, with more than 900,000 students during the 2024–25 school year.
The city’s decision could therefore influence how other large school districts approach the use of artificial intelligence among younger students.
(With AFP inputs)
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
