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California Schools to Teach AI Literacy: New Law Takes Effect in 2025
The California Governor has signed the bill AB 2876 into law, requiring the integration of AI literacy into K-12 school curricula.
Date of writing
October 24, 2024
Time of reading
2 minutes
In a move that places California at the forefront of educational innovation, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 2876 into law, requiring the integration of AI literacy into K-12 school curricula, as stated in government technology news. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman, was passed unanimously by both the state Assembly and Senate, underscoring widespread support for equipping students with skills essential in an AI-driven future.
Starting next year, California's Instructional Quality Commission will update math, science, and history-social science courses to incorporate lessons on artificial intelligence. This initiative aims to educate students about how AI systems function, their real-world applications, ethical implications, and inherent limitations. The law also mandates that AI literacy be considered when evaluating textbooks and instructional materials to ensure students are introduced to these concepts across multiple subjects.
Berman emphasized the need for young people to become informed and ethical users of AI, saying, “AI has the potential to positively impact the way we live, but only if we know how to use it and use it responsibly.” He added, “Children and young people today must navigate a world — and job market — transformed by fast-moving AI technology.”
California is home to more than half of the world's leading AI developers, many located in Silicon Valley. The bill reflects the state's commitment to providing students with the foundational knowledge to engage with AI as future professionals, consumers, and citizens. The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber), which co-sponsored the legislation, worked closely with lawmakers to ensure that the curriculum not only focuses on the technical aspects of AI but also addresses social and ethical concerns.
According to CalChamber policy advocate Ronak Daylami, “What we mean by AI literacy is simply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with how artificial intelligence works, including its principles, concepts, and applications, as well as its limitations, implications, and ethical considerations.”
Daylami noted that AI literacy would complement existing media literacy programs already mandated in schools. She stressed that the goal is to prepare students for a future shaped by new technologies, preventing the challenges that adults have encountered in adapting to evolving technologies. “The bill is intended to relieve burdens for students so that they don’t struggle the way some people have struggled with technologies in their lives or workplaces as adults,” Daylami explained.
The AI literacy initiative is part of a larger package of AI-related laws recently enacted in California. Other new legislation addresses issues such as expanding child pornography laws to cover AI-generated content, requiring developers to disclose the data used to train AI systems, and ensuring transparency when AI is involved in healthcare decisions. Additionally, a new law mandates that political ads altered by AI must be clearly labeled to avoid voter misinformation.
However, not all AI-related proposals were approved. Governor Newsom vetoed SB 1047, a controversial bill that would have required AI developers to conduct safety testing and implement “kill switches” to prevent AI systems from causing harm or being used maliciously.
With these new laws, California aims to set the standard for integrating AI education into public schooling. Berman emphasized that ensuring students are prepared for the impact of AI is critical to their future success. “This new law will equip all California students with the skills and training they need to be safe, ethical, and successful users of AI as it becomes more mainstream,” he said.
California's proactive approach to education reflects the state's broader leadership in managing the risks and opportunities presented by advanced technologies. As AI continues to shape industries and economies, ensuring that students understand and can navigate these developments will position them—and the state—for long-term success.
Starting next year, California's Instructional Quality Commission will update math, science, and history-social science courses to incorporate lessons on artificial intelligence. This initiative aims to educate students about how AI systems function, their real-world applications, ethical implications, and inherent limitations. The law also mandates that AI literacy be considered when evaluating textbooks and instructional materials to ensure students are introduced to these concepts across multiple subjects.
Berman emphasized the need for young people to become informed and ethical users of AI, saying, “AI has the potential to positively impact the way we live, but only if we know how to use it and use it responsibly.” He added, “Children and young people today must navigate a world — and job market — transformed by fast-moving AI technology.”
California is home to more than half of the world's leading AI developers, many located in Silicon Valley. The bill reflects the state's commitment to providing students with the foundational knowledge to engage with AI as future professionals, consumers, and citizens. The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber), which co-sponsored the legislation, worked closely with lawmakers to ensure that the curriculum not only focuses on the technical aspects of AI but also addresses social and ethical concerns.
According to CalChamber policy advocate Ronak Daylami, “What we mean by AI literacy is simply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with how artificial intelligence works, including its principles, concepts, and applications, as well as its limitations, implications, and ethical considerations.”
Daylami noted that AI literacy would complement existing media literacy programs already mandated in schools. She stressed that the goal is to prepare students for a future shaped by new technologies, preventing the challenges that adults have encountered in adapting to evolving technologies. “The bill is intended to relieve burdens for students so that they don’t struggle the way some people have struggled with technologies in their lives or workplaces as adults,” Daylami explained.
The AI literacy initiative is part of a larger package of AI-related laws recently enacted in California. Other new legislation addresses issues such as expanding child pornography laws to cover AI-generated content, requiring developers to disclose the data used to train AI systems, and ensuring transparency when AI is involved in healthcare decisions. Additionally, a new law mandates that political ads altered by AI must be clearly labeled to avoid voter misinformation.
However, not all AI-related proposals were approved. Governor Newsom vetoed SB 1047, a controversial bill that would have required AI developers to conduct safety testing and implement “kill switches” to prevent AI systems from causing harm or being used maliciously.
With these new laws, California aims to set the standard for integrating AI education into public schooling. Berman emphasized that ensuring students are prepared for the impact of AI is critical to their future success. “This new law will equip all California students with the skills and training they need to be safe, ethical, and successful users of AI as it becomes more mainstream,” he said.
California's proactive approach to education reflects the state's broader leadership in managing the risks and opportunities presented by advanced technologies. As AI continues to shape industries and economies, ensuring that students understand and can navigate these developments will position them—and the state—for long-term success.