By Kerry Gallagher
In the last year, according to Pew, the number of American workers who use AI for at least some of their work increased from 16% to 21%. Among younger, more educated workers, AI use increased even more from 20% to 28%. But AI use by students has increased at an even more rapid pace. According to the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), the number of students who use AI increased from 70% to 86%. Since AI use is increasing both in the American workforce and in American schools, this could be considered a call to action for schools and families to be intentional about how AI is used at school and at home.
There are risks that come with AI use cited in the same CDT study:
- data breaches or ransomware attacks
- tech-enabled sexual harassment and bullying
- AI systems that do not work as intended
- troubling interactions between students and technology
The CDT recommendations for more beneficial AI integration include:
- Teacher-led
- Ethical
- Data-protective
Since the use of AI is increasing in the workplace and in schools, it is time for educators to take some concrete steps to intentionally model and teach effective use of this powerful tool.