China Quickly Pushes AI Into Schools, Universities

It seems as if the whole world has jumped aboard the artificial intelligence (AI) train. But no country is plunging itself so deeply in the new tech as China. The Asian country is offering college courses wrapped around AI. China's also offering AI classes to children as young as 6 years old. 

Elementary and middle schools in Beijing will begin offering eight hours of AI classes each school year, Fortune magazine said. Students will be taught how AI works. They'll also be taught how to use chatbots and other AI tools. And they'll be taught ethical AI usage.

What about at the college level? Schools across China last month launched courses on AI. Chinese authorities say they're seeking to enhance AI knowledge across the country. China is the world’s second-largest economy. Its leaders clearly see pushing advancements in AI, and greater knowledge of AI, as key to high economic output.  

The Asian nation burst into the AI world in January. That's when its version of AI, the chatbot DeepSeek-R1, was released to the public. Over just a couple of weeks, the Chinese chatbot outpaced OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the freeware app in Apple’s store with the most downloads.

Chinese officials hope teaching kids about AI at a young age in a school setting will help its country win the global AI race. China’s Ministry of Education said 184 schools will pilot AI models and programs. That's part of a strong push to fully incorporate AI into classroom learning across the country. 

Huai Jinpeng is China’s education minister. Jinpeng deemed AI the “golden key” for the future of the country’s school system.  

Reflect: Would you want to take an AI class in school? Why or why not?

Gif of ChatGTP from GIPHY.