The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, and education is no exception. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into workplaces, research suggests that AI literacy is now a critical skill for students to master, as stated by Sarah Wood, U.S. News & World Report.
The Global AI Education Race
Countries are recognizing the importance of AI education and taking action. China, for instance, has introduced mandatory AI courses for schoolchildren and developed its own advanced AI tools, such as DeepSeek, which rivals U.S.-produced AI like ChatGPT.
In response, the U.S. government has also stepped up. In April 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to provide “comprehensive AI training for educators” and promote “early exposure” to AI concepts in schools. "We have an AI space race that's taking place right now," says C. Edward Watson, vice president for digital innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). *"I do believe that we'll see federal funding that will follow that executive order to support K-12 settings in fostering AI literacy skills in students, just like they're now doing in China."*
Watson co-authored the 2025 Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence series, a collaboration between AAC&U and Elon University, to help students navigate AI in higher education.
In response, the U.S. government has also stepped up. In April 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to provide “comprehensive AI training for educators” and promote “early exposure” to AI concepts in schools. "We have an AI space race that's taking place right now," says C. Edward Watson, vice president for digital innovation at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). *"I do believe that we'll see federal funding that will follow that executive order to support K-12 settings in fostering AI literacy skills in students, just like they're now doing in China."*
Watson co-authored the 2025 Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence series, a collaboration between AAC&U and Elon University, to help students navigate AI in higher education.
Advantages of AI in Education
AI offers students unprecedented learning support:
"Students now have access to a tutor on every subject imaginable," Watson explains. "We can customize instruction to extend what they're learning or clarify what they missed."
- Personalized tutoring: Students can ask AI to explain concepts in different ways, such as using sports analogies or local references.
- Automated study aids: AI tools can take lecture notes, generate quizzes, and help reinforce classroom material.
"Students now have access to a tutor on every subject imaginable," Watson explains. "We can customize instruction to extend what they're learning or clarify what they missed."
Ethical Concerns and Academic Integrity
However, AI also raises questions about cheating and critical thinking:
"Accusing one student falsely has huge ramifications," Watson warns. Instead of relying on detection tools, he suggests clear assignment policies and discussions on ethical AI use.
- Unclear boundaries: Students may use AI to generate outlines or drafts without knowing if it violates academic integrity policies.
- Detection difficulties: AI-generated content is hard to distinguish from human writing, and AI detectors often produce false positives.
"Accusing one student falsely has huge ramifications," Watson warns. Instead of relying on detection tools, he suggests clear assignment policies and discussions on ethical AI use.
Preparing Students for an AI-Driven WorkforceThe Future of AI in Education
Employers increasingly expect AI proficiency. A Microsoft survey found that 66% of leaders would not hire someone without AI skills. "Degrees still matter, but there are now additional expectations around AI competency," Watson notes. "We need to integrate AI literacy into the curriculum so students learn best practices for their fields."
Watson believes AI will remain a permanent fixture in education and the workplace due to:
"We're just at the beginning of a transition—the 'Ask Jeeves' phase of AI," he says. "AI, for better or worse, is here to stay."
Watson believes AI will remain a permanent fixture in education and the workplace due to:
- National security concerns (competing with other nations in AI development).
- Industry demands (healthcare, law, and other fields increasingly rely on AI).
"We're just at the beginning of a transition—the 'Ask Jeeves' phase of AI," he says. "AI, for better or worse, is here to stay."