AI in Education: An Overview of Key Topics

• AI Literacy as a New Key Competency

  Competent use of AI is increasingly becoming a central educational priority. International organizations such as the OECD and UNESCO emphasize the importance of AI literacy—that is, competencies that enable people to understand AI, use it responsibly, and critically reflect on its societal impacts. This includes knowledge of how AI works, skills in applying and evaluating AI systems, and a reflective attitude toward the opportunities and risks of the technology.

• Learning about AI and learning with AI

  In the education system, AI is becoming both a subject of study and a learning tool. On the one hand, students should understand how AI works, what data it uses, and what its limitations are. On the other hand, AI itself can support learning processes, for example through personalized learning paths, adaptive learning systems, or digital assistance systems. The goal is to combine technical understanding, practical application skills, and critical reflection.

• AI Skills in the School Education System

  Although many students are already familiar with AI applications, many do not feel adequately prepared by their schools to work with AI. Studies show that while AI is increasingly being addressed in the classroom, it is often only covered superficially. At the same time, the topic has so far been only limitedly integrated into curricula and is frequently restricted to individual subjects such as computer science. As a result, the potential of AI for learning, problem-solving, and critical thinking in a school context remains largely untapped.

• AI Skills in the Workplace and Continuing Education

  In the workplace as well, AI technologies are increasingly changing the requirements for qualifications and skills. Many companies already recognize that new skills in working with AI are necessary. At the same time, however, a significant gap is evident: only a small proportion of companies currently offer targeted continuing education programs or training on working with AI. To prepare employees for future demands, lifelong learning and continuous skill development are becoming increasingly important.

What implications does the growing use of AI in more and more areas of life have for school education?

AI is used by students and teachers almost exclusively in the form of AI chatbots such as ChatGPT. Unlike other AI applications, these are easily accessible. In contrast, other AI methods we encounter in everyday life tend to be hidden and are often not even identified as AI methods. This applies, for example, to the personalized selection of content on streaming services and of content and advertising on social media. Unlocking a smartphone via facial recognition, voice assistants, and the real-time calculation of route recommendations in navigation apps are also based on AI methods. A basic understanding of AI (AI literacy) is necessary for the thoughtful, safe, and efficient use of AI applications and tools. Accordingly, learning about AI belongs as a subject in schools and also in teacher training.

Where do you see the greatest potential and risks of AI in relation to school education and corporate training?

As we increasingly delegate tasks to systems like ChatGPT, there is a risk that we will fail to acquire essential skills. We learn many things only by doing them. If I let AI systems take over more and more tasks, I will go from being an active participant to a mere recipient. The loss of skills—whether in writing texts or solving math problems—is accompanied by a loss of critical thinking skills. We can therefore no longer judge whether AI-generated content is correct or of good quality. To halt such developments, fundamental reforms in the education sector are needed, along with the targeted development of interfaces between humans and AI that promote skill acquisition and reflection. Here, the combination of large language models with approaches from the field of intelligent tutoring systems—which have long been developed in AI—offers a solution.

What steps must the education system take today to capitalize on the opportunities offered by AI and responsibly address its risks?

AI methods, as problem-solving tools, belong in schools just as much as other technical aids, such as calculators. Schools should provide all students with the best possible support to build their skills. For this to succeed, structures must be created that prevent an over-reliance on chatbots. Instead of cramming more and more into the curriculum, the focus should be on core content and methods to promote an understanding of contexts, transferable problem-solving skills, and the ability to evaluate. Individualized practice should not be delegated to the home in the form of homework, but should take place within the school setting. Here, AI systems can be used to provide targeted feedback and assistance. In the AI and Education Expert Panel of the Bavarian AI Council, experts from academia, schools, business, and politics are currently working together to develop recommendations on how school education can succeed in the age of AI.