AI class is in session

AI could be required knowledge sooner than you think. Over 250+ CEOs, including Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, LinkedIn’s Ryan Roslansky, and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi, have signed an open letter calling for the instatement of AI and computer science classes as core components — and graduation requirements — within K-12 curricula across the US, TechCrunch reports.

The letter eyes USD 660 bn in economic potential for everyday US citizens. The open letter put forth by CSforAll, titled Upgrade 8, argues that professionals who have been offered — on an elective basis — computer science classes throughout their education make on average eight percent more in salaries than their counterparts. "It's about closing skills and income gaps that have persisted for generations,” the letter reads.

Could AI even the odds? According to Axios, having AI and computer science as graduation requirements could help underrepresented groups — namely women, people of color, and individuals of lower socioeconomic classes — gain access to the largely-monolithic computer science fields. Currently, only 6.4% of American high school students take computer science classes.

It’s already happening all around the world. The letter notes that many countries, like Brazil, China, South Korea, and Singapore, have already begun embracing AI in their curricula. Most recently, the United Arab Emirates announced plans to incorporate AI as a mandatory class for students aged four all the way up to graduation beginning next academic year, The National reported.

Google knows what they’re doing. Earlier this month, the tech leader made its Gemini AI chatbot available to children under the age of 13 in an attempt to attract a younger demographic. A move that follows a concerning pattern of tech companies developing products specifically for younger users. Coupled with the potential introduction of AI into school curricula across the globe, we’re likely to see a drastic shift in education over the coming years.