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

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Artificial intelligence chatbots have become a source of frustration for educators across the country, but forward-thinking schools in Charleston, South Carolina, are taking proactive steps to prepare students for the growing presence of AI in their lives. At a recent workshop, teachers and administrators observed a demonstration where an AI tool generated a map of the world, riddled with errors and inaccuracies.

This eye-opening exercise, designed by AI For Education, aimed to illustrate the potential dangers of blindly trusting AI outputs.

As schools nationwide grapple with how to integrate AI into the curriculum, Charleston County School District is taking a unique approach. Rather than outright banning AI use, district officials are encouraging experimentation and teaching students how to critically evaluate AI-generated content. The district, which does not have official AI guidance, has partnered with AI For Education to develop their own framework.

Phase one involved creating an AI policy with input from teachers, students, and parents. Phase two, now underway, focuses on training both educators and students in responsible AI use.

Central to this training is the concept of AI literacy, which goes beyond simply learning how to use AI tools. Rebecca Winthrop, director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, emphasizes that AI literacy also involves understanding when to refrain from relying on AI. The district's student course, for instance, walks through scenarios like asking a chatbot to assist with a research paper, highlighting the potential for AI to produce misleading or entirely fabricated information.

Students are explicitly instructed to verify any factual data obtained from AI tools, particularly for academic purposes.

In addition to the importance of verifying information, the course also covers data privacy concerns, warning students not to share personal information with AI services due to the risk of data storage, training, and potential leaks. High school teacher Ray Knauer, who participated in the district's summer training, plans to incorporate examples of AI bias and hallucinations into his AP Research class.

By exposing students to these risks early on, educators hope to foster a generation of digital citizens who can navigate the AI landscape with a healthy dose of skepticism and critical thinking.