China's capital mandates AI classes for 6-year-olds as scholars warn of 'cognitive short-circuit'
China has ordered artificial intelligence into every stage of schooling by 2030, a program that already requires students in Beijing, some as young as six, to take AI classes.
China's capital, Beijing, has mandated artificial intelligence (AI) classes for 6-year-olds as scholars express concerns about potential cognitive short-circuiting. iFlytek, a technology company showcasing its AI Blackboard, demonstrated how smart pens can clean up handwritten sketches and convert them into 3D models. The system automatically pulls up relevant teaching materials and records lessons for students to review later.
China's 15th Five-Year Plan emphasizes integrating AI into every aspect of education, a move supported by five central government departments and an AI Plus Education action plan. By the end of 2025, 87.7% of Beijing's schools will have adopted AI, with students taking at least eight AI class hours annually. However, experts warn that over-reliance on AI could lead to a "cognitive short-circuit" in children's early development.
While AI can assist in organizing information and providing feedback, it cannot replace teachers' roles in offering values-based guidance, intellectual inspiration, and empathetic engagement with students in complex situations.
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