The California Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a bill that would allow California to take a crucial first step forward in fostering an artificial intelligence-literate population and future workforce by teaching artificial intelligence (AI) literacy in schools.
The bill, AB 2876 (Berman; D-Palo Alto), passed the Assembly Education Committee on April 3 with unanimous support.
AB 2876’s author, Assemblymember Marc Berman, stressed that the bill will help prepare California’s students for the usage of AI in the workplace and in everyday life.
“AI has the potential to positively impact the way we live, but only if we know how to use it, and use it responsibly,” Berman said. “No matter their future profession, we must ensure that all students understand basic AI principles and applications, that they have the skills to recognize when AI is employed, and are aware of AI’s implications, limitations, and ethical considerations. AB 2876 will equip all of California’s students with the skills and training they need to thrive as AI becomes more mainstream.”
AI Literacy
AB 2876 will ensure that all K-12 students receive instruction in AI literacy by directing the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to incorporate AI literacy content into the mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are revised next.
These materials will cover the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with how AI works, including its principles, concepts, and applications, as well as how to use artificial intelligence, including its limitations, implications, and ethical considerations.
Amendments accepted in the committee require the IQC to consider adding media literacy and AI literacy standards the next time the State Board of Education adopts the instructional materials for the English language arts/English language development curriculum framework.
“Incorporating this information into existing curricula will dispel the stigma and mystique of the technology, not only helping students become more discerning and intentional users and consumers of AI, but also better positioning future generations of workers to succeed in an AI-driven workforce and hopefully inspiring the next generation of computer scientists,” said CalChamber Policy Advocate Ronak Daylami.
“If California is to successfully harness the tremendous promise of this technology, it is vital that it place greater emphasis and resources on preparing students and arming them with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to identify, understand, and successfully utilize all kinds of AI that they may encounter in their future workplaces and in their daily lives,” she said.
