Schools are starting to teach AI literacy. For many, that means helping kids see chatbots’ flaws

Artificial intelligence chatbots have become a source of frustration for educators nationwide, but a group of teachers and principals in Charleston, South Carolina, are embracing the technology to better prepare their students for the upcoming school year. During the Charleston Educator Symposium, held at Academic Magnet High School, attendees witnessed a demonstration of an AI tool creating a map of the world, which revealed numerous errors and inaccuracies.

The map incorrectly labeled Mali as "Mail," Egypt as "Sopth," and Libya as "Africa," among other misspellings and bizarre errors.

Amanda Bickerstaff, founder and CEO of AI For Education, a non-profit organization that assists schools in developing AI policies and training students and teachers in the responsible use of this technology, emphasized the importance of teaching students not to over-rely on AI tools. She noted that the map demonstration served as a powerful illustration of the potential dangers of blindly trusting AI-generated information.

As a result of this eye-opening experience, many U.S. public schools are shifting their approach to AI education. Instead of outright banning AI use, educators are now encouraging students to experiment with these tools in the classroom. This strategy aims to expose students to the shortcomings of generative AI, such as its propensity to "hallucinate" or fabricate information.

The concept of AI literacy has emerged as a critical buzzword for the new school year, as educators strive to equip students with the necessary skills for an AI-driven future while preventing them from outsourcing their critical thinking to chatbots.

There is no universally accepted definition of AI literacy, nor a standardized method for teaching it. Leading technology companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic offer schools training sessions on how to utilize their AI tools. However, a consensus is growing among educators that AI literacy encompasses more than just learning how to use generative AI and crafting effective prompts.

Rebecca Winthrop, director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, explained that "good AI literacy" includes knowing when not to use AI tools, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and discernment in the age of artificial intelligence.