Overview
- Two of the nation’s largest districts have moved to restrict student access to generative AI in schools while Boston has chosen to train teachers and pilot classroom use under tight controls.
- OpenAI convened experts to focus on teen safety and company representatives have described account and behavior signals that aim to identify under‑18 users and trigger extra protections.
- Surveys and company data show very high teen use of chatbots for schoolwork, with many students relying on AI for assignments and teachers and researchers reporting widespread misuse and cheating.
- Child development and mental‑health experts warn current AI designs can encourage over‑reliance, erode independent thinking, and prompt unhealthy usage patterns, and they call for age‑appropriate defaults and limits.
- Stakeholders say technical safeguards alone are not enough because students can use AI off campus and many apps embed generative features, so they urge funded teacher professional development, clear school policies, and cross‑sector research to guide safer classroom use.