OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft Back Bill to Fund 'AI Literacy' in Schools
What it is
Picture the companies building AI systems now writing the textbooks about them. This bill—sponsored by Adam Schiff and Mike Rounds—would funnel federal money into teaching kids and teachers about artificial intelligence. Think: grants for school districts to run AI workshops, curricula explaining how ChatGPT works, training on 'responsible use' of generative tools.
Why it matters
When tech companies fund education about their own products, you get marketing dressed as literacy. This matters if you have kids in school or work in education—the framing of 'AI literacy' will shape whether students learn to critically evaluate these systems or just accept them as inevitable infrastructure. Watch for whether these programs teach skepticism or compliance.
Key details
- •Bill name: 'Literacy in Future Technologies and Artificial Intelligence Act'—bipartisan, sponsored by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
- •OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft are actively lobbying Congress to pass this legislation
- •Would establish federal grant programs targeting K-12 teachers and students specifically for AI education
- •Comes as these same companies face almost no federal regulation on how their AI products are used in classrooms
- •Critics argue it lets Big Tech define 'literacy' about tools they profit from—imagine oil companies teaching climate science
Worth watching
0:36OpenAI's CEO on What Kids Should Be Studying
Bloomberg Originals
This video features OpenAI's CEO directly discussing educational priorities for students, making it essential context for understanding the corporate perspective behind the AI literacy bill.
0:32How to BEST use ChatGPT for studying?
Justin Sung
This video demonstrates practical AI literacy skills for students, showing real-world applications of how young people can effectively engage with AI tools like ChatGPT for learning purposes.
Video data provided by YouTube. Videos link to youtube.com.