Chicago school board candidates sign pledge to ban AI use in schools

Fifty of the forty-five Chicago school board candidates have signed a pledge to ban artificial intelligence use in schools for three years. The pledge, created by a local nonprofit, also calls for cutting school screen time before third grade, limiting it in later grades, hiring a chief privacy officer, and prohibiting the collection of student biometric data.

Cassie Creswell, head of Illinois Families for Public Schools, expressed concern that AI risks outweighing its benefits. However, some candidates, district officials, and others argue the pledge goes too far, denying educators useful tools and limiting their ability to help students navigate omnipresent technology thoughtfully and safely.

Janice Jackson, former CPS CEO, said an outright ban is unproductive and negates the district's responsibility to find better solutions for students. Chicago Public Schools maintains a responsible and deliberate approach to AI, citing its recent shelving of a plan to give high school students access to Google's Gemini AI chatbot.

The district stated it remains committed to AI's potential to enhance learning while safeguarding student data privacy. While some board members support the pledge, others worry about its potential to hinder students' ability to use AI and navigate its pitfalls. A growing national backlash against education technology, including AI-powered software, is driving the momentum for technology restrictions.