Vietnam and China Embrace AI in Classrooms as NYC Pushes Back
As the world grapples with the benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence (AI), two countries are taking different approaches to integrating AI into their education systems. In Vietnam, the government has launched an AI educational framework that aims to prepare students for the digital economy, while in China, a joint action plan is being implemented to use AI to make special education more accessible and personalized.
The Vietnamese initiative, which was announced in August, will see elementary to high school students receive compulsory lessons on human-centered thinking, ethics, techniques, and applications of AI. The program will begin in the 2026-2027 academic year and will include 12 periods of AI education per year.
In contrast, New York City has taken a more restrictive approach to AI in schools. The city's Education Department has announced plans to ban the use of AI devices for students from early childhood through eighth grade due to concerns about their potential negative effects on mental health and cognitive development.