Latest news with #BeijingMunicipalEducationCommission
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion: AI Education Is the New Space Race. Here's How America Must Respond
The Soviet Union's launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957 ignited a revival of science education in America. At the time, Americans assumed they were far ahead in a new frontier of science. They were wrong. But Sputnik was a wakeup call. Eventually, the U.S. not only overtook the USSR in the Space Race, but became the premier global hub for STEM research and development. Today, America's assumptions about its technical advantages are being challenged anew. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter China announced recently that all students in Beijing will receive mandatory training in artificial intelligence starting next fall. And the emergence of China's DeepSeek has shown that commonly held assumptions about the U.S.'s technical advantage are once again just that — assumptions. This could be American AI's competitive wakeup call, illustrating that the U.S. needs to dramatically strengthen and expand its approach to AI education. But in this new Space Race, America doesn't have years to catch up. AI advancements are happening at the fastest pace of any innovation in modern history. If we wait, we will lose. Under the Beijing Municipal Education Commission's plan, elementary schoolers will be enrolled in hands-on introductory courses for artificial intelligence, middle schoolers will learn how to apply AI in their schoolwork and daily lives, and high schoolers will focus on strengthening innovation in the field. Related China isn't alone. The governments of Singapore, South Korea, Finland and Canada have all passed initiatives to integrate AI training in children's education. That list will only grow as more nations realize how vital AI will be in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Countries that lead in AI education will subsequently lead in AI-driven economic growth and military advancement. If the U.S. doesn't prioritize AI literacy and readiness, it isn't just setting students up for failure — it's undermining its own economic and national security. By 2030, artificial intelligence will contribute nearly $20 trillion to the global economy. America must stay at the forefront. This means AI literacy — the fundamental understanding of these technological tools — isn't optional. Neither is AI readiness, the ability to leverage those tools to the nation's advantage. Instilling both concepts in America's schools will set the foundation for the future. Admittedly, the structure of the education system in the United States restricts the government's ability to mandate AI courses from the top down, the way China can. But history shows that America's community-based approach can be a catalyst for innovation, especially when states, schools and nonprofits are empowered to collaborate and lead the charge. AI education doesn't need a one-size-fits-all approach; it needs momentum and sharing of what works and what doesn't. If we leave it to each state or school to figure it out on their own, we risk further alienating Americans who fall on the wrong side of the knowledge gap. So, how can U.S. schools get on the right track? First, don't ignore the ongoing technology race. Developments like those in Beijing should spark conversations and action among school district leaders, teachers and parents. Second, recognize AI education as a national priority. Federal officials must discuss AI literacy and readiness as imperative for the nation's economic security and competitiveness. Though economics and education tend to be separate policy discussions, they go hand in hand when it comes to the ability of future generations to participate in an increasingly tech-driven global workforce. Related Third, even without any federal action, states and school districts can and should recognize the importance of AI education and integrate it into their curriculums. This is already happening in places like Ohio, where the state has funded workshops with ongoing training in AI concepts for all educators and its Educational Service Center Association has developed an AI policy toolkit. In Maryland, Prince George's County Public Schools have developed an AI implementation framework. There's also lots of room for nonprofit organizations to pick up the slack on AI education. Organizations like aiEDU (where I work), AIandYou and MIT's RAISE initiative have done a lot of legwork creating pilot programs and teacher training so schools don't have to figure it out from scratch. America must rise to the moment. A year after the Soviets launched the first space satellite in history, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act, which increased funding for education — particularly in science and math. The home-grown scientists and engineers that effort produced strengthened national security, transformed the U.S. into the world's top superpower within a generation and resulted in discoveries that drive computing, medicine and mobile technology to this day. The new technological developments and educational investments in places like China require a similar response. America must push forward to implement AI education that will help the nation prosper and compete in the years ahead.
Ammon
13-03-2025
- Business
- Ammon
Beijing to introduce AI courses across primary, secondary schools
Ammon News - Beijing will introduce artificial intelligence (AI) courses for primary and secondary school students, in an effort to nurture future-oriented and innovative talent. Starting from the upcoming fall semester, schools across the Chinese capital will offer at least eight class hours of AI instruction per academic year. These courses can either be delivered independently or integrated with other subjects, such as information technology, according to a work plan recently published on the official website of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission. The teaching methods will vary by educational stage primary schools will focus on experiential courses to introduce AI concepts; junior high schools will emphasize cognitive courses to help students apply AI in learning and daily life; and senior high schools will offer practical courses to enhance AI application and innovation. China is witnessing rapid expansion in its AI industry. Earlier this year, Chinese tech start-up DeepSeek sent shock waves through the global AI industry and capital markets by introducing an open-source and popular chatbot. In December 2024, China's Ministry of Education issued a notice on enhancing AI education in primary and secondary schools, promoting collaboration between industry, academia, and research. Xinhua
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China's six-year-olds are already being offered AI classes in school in a bid to train the next generation of DeepSeek founders
Following DeepSeek's explosive success, AI classes are coming to primary and secondary schools in China's capital, Beijing—and it's not the only country that's training kids to be the next Liang Wenfeng. China has a new secret weapon in the global AI-wars: elementary school kids. Beijing is training its next cohort of tech CEOs before they've even left the playground. Starting this fall semester, primary and secondary schools in Beijing will offer at least eight hours of AI classes every academic year—with students as young as six years old being taught how to use chatbots and other tools, general background on the technology, and AI ethics. In a recent statement, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission said that schools can integrate the courses with existing studies like information technology or science, or let them stand alone. It also outlines plans to construct a multi-year AI curriculum, build a general AI education and training system, roll out a support system, and drum up promotion of the study. China's capital hopes this training will bolster the country's strength in winning the AI wars—especially after DeepSeek's explosive entry onto the scene. And efforts are well underway; last December, China's Ministry of Education announced that it selected 184 Chinese schools to pilot models and programs in the AI curriculum to serve as a basis for wider programming. And Huai Jinpeng, the minister of the government agency, said that AI is the 'golden key' for the country's educational system. Beijing's schools may be trying to replicate the success it's seen out of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou—where two of China's most prominent tech leaders, DeepSeek's Liang Wenfeng and Unitree's Wang Xingxing both graduated from. By getting students to grips with AI at an even younger age, the nation's capital could see an explosion of innovation—if it can keep pace with other countries also integrating AI into school curriculums. China isn't the only country to bring AI to kids. Estonia's government announced a partnership with OpenAI last month to equip secondary school students and teachers with ChatGPT Edu, a version of ChatGPT customized for education systems. It will be rolled out among 10th and 11th graders in the country starting September this year, and the collaboration will also entail technical assistance, administrative task streamlining, study support, and lesson planning. 'We are now starting a new chapter in the development of our education system and digital society,' Estonian President Alar Karis said. 'Artificial intelligence has permanently changed the world, and like all sectors, the education system must adapt to these changes.' Other countries like Canada and South Korea have also integrated the advanced tech into K-12 studies, including using AI-powered digital textbooks and programs for teachers to integrate AI in class. A private school in the U.K. similarly launched a 'teacherless' classroom last year, where about 20 students used virtual reality headsets and AI platforms to learn instead of listening to humans. And American education provider McGraw Hill launched two genAI tools for the classroom in 2024: AI Reader to mark up digital books and Writing Assistant to get specific feedback in the writing process. Despite the waves AI can make in learning, education companies and ministries head caution with overreliance on tech tools. Advanced tech has the capability to be anyone's personal tutor—free of charge—which can be conveniently accessed on any device. But there are risks, too. The United Nations has stressed children's safety by using inclusive AI tools, setting clear guidelines, emphasizing 'humanity' at the center of the curriculums, and managing risk. And education business leaders echo the same considerations. 'Our levels of brand trust are so high that the greatest risk for us is not moving too slowly on AI, it's moving too fast on AI,' Dylan Arena, chief data science and AI officer at McGraw Hill, told Fortune. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China's capital city is making AI education mandatory, even for elementary schoolers
Starting this fall, schools in Beijing must provide at least eight hours of AI instruction. AI education will be mandatory for students from elementary school through high school. The move comes as China powers ahead in the AI race. China's capital, Beijing, is making AI education compulsory for students — including elementary schoolers. Starting this fall, schools in the city must provide at least eight hours of AI instruction per academic year, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission said in a statement on Friday. Schools can teach AI as a stand-alone course or integrate it into existing courses like science and information technology. Under the new plan, elementary schoolers, typically ages six to twelve, would take hands-on courses to kick-start their understanding of AI. Those in middle school would learn how to apply AI in schoolwork and daily life, while high schoolers would focus on strengthening AI applications and innovation, the agency said. In China, compulsory education consists of six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, and three years of high school. The commission said the initiative is meant to create a "teacher-student-machine" learning model and integrate AI ethics. Beijing isn't alone in pushing for AI education in schools. Last year, California passed a law requiring its education board to consider AI literacy in school curricula. Reuters reported in September that Italy would begin testing AI-powered tools in 15 classrooms as part of a broader effort to enhance students' digital skills. Beijing's decision to make AI education mandatory comes as China powers ahead in the AI race, with its homegrown startups gaining global attention. Earlier this year, AI startup DeepSeek made headlines after unveiling a low-cost reasoning model that shook up the AI industry and the US stock market. The company said its model rivals top competitors, like ChatGPT's o1, at a fraction of the cost. Last week, Alibaba's stock surged 8% over two days after the company launched its latest open-sourced AI model, which it said used less data than its rival DeepSeek. Other Chinese AI stocks, including Tencent, have also seen gains amid excitement for newly announced technology, while top US-based AI stocks, like Nvidia, have faced losses. Read the original article on Business Insider
