The AI-powered chatbot was banned this winter and — after months signaling the policy would be revised — will remain a restricted website on school networks until individual principals ask to have the block removed, a schools spokesman confirmed to The News.
As of this week, just 36 schools over the last several months have requested access, according to city data.
“While initial caution was justified, it has now evolved into an exploration and careful examination of this new technology’s power and risks,” wrote Schools Chancellor David Banks in an editorial for the education news site Chalkbeat.
“New York City Public Schools will encourage and support our educators and students as they learn about and explore this game-changing technology,” he said.
Banks unveiled plans to offer a toolkit for teachers about artificial intelligence in their classrooms, as well as create a repository for schools to share their findings across the city.
Officials are promoting free lesson plans and teacher training from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that each include up to four hours of hands-on activities.
“We encourage all schools to engage students in activities exploring how artificial intelligence has already impacted their lives and the broader issues it presents to our society,” Banks said.
The curriculum covers the fundamentals of AI and its impact on society, according to a course description. Lessons are broken down by grade level — from “What Can AI Do?” for kindergarten through second graders, to technical instruction in the programming language Python for older students.
Course materials also tackle big ideas such as how do machines gain intelligence, to bias in artificial intelligence. Kids as young as 8 years old may be tasked with coming up with a Bill of Rights to ensure AI does not infringe on human rights and privacy.
Students at a middle school in Queens are already discussing ethics concerns as well as the potential of artificial intelligence, Banks said, while teachers experiment with using AI to create personalized lesson plans and grade assignments.
Outside of the classroom, Banks said schools will be provided with best practices to use AI to improve administrative tasks and communication.
“This is absolutely the right move,” wrote Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine on Twitter, who previously conducted a social media poll that found nearly 42 percent of respondents supported banning the technology. “We need to prepare our young people for the new world that’s coming.”
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