Norway imposes near ban on AI tools for elementary school kids

Key takeaways:

Norway is moving to sharply limit children’s use of generative AI in schools, especially for younger pupils, to protect basic learning.
Children aged 6 to 13 should not use AI tools, while students aged 14 to 16 may use them only under teacher supervision, according to the government.
The rules will begin with the new school year in late August and are part of Norway’s broader push to reduce children’s screen use.

Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.

Norway is imposing a near-total ban on the use of generative AI by elementary school pupils while restricting its usage among older students.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced the news on Friday, saying that using AI can have negative impacts on learning, Reuters reports.

"The most important thing in school is that our children learn to read, write and do mathematics," Stoere said.

According to the government, children from first through seventh grade, aged 6 to 13, should not be using AI, while those in lower secondary school, aged 14 to ‌16, can use them under teachers' supervision.

In turn, older students, aged 17 to 19, should learn to use AI responsibly to prepare for their future education and careers.

New rules will be implemented from the new school year beginning in late August.

This comes amid a broader crackdown on kids’ online usage in the country. In April, Norway said it would present a bill in parliament by year-end to ban children from using social media until they turn 16. It’s not currently clear which social media platforms will be affected.

"We are introducing this legislation because we want a childhood where children get to be children," Støre said in a statement.

The government also banned smartphones from schools in 2024 following a decline in education test scores.

In a separate statement on Friday, the government said it plans to introduce legislation to promote the use of physical books in classrooms, moving away from heavy reliance on tablets.

No country has yet implemented a nationwide ban on AI in schools, but several are restricting its use in education. China has introduced limits on AI use in primary and secondary schools, while several autonomous communities in Spain have introduced bans on disruptive digital devices in classrooms.