US Teacher Union Calls for Ban on AI in Elementary Schools

The American Federation of Teachers, the second-largest teachers union in the US, has launched a major campaign urging schools to ban AI systems from elementary classrooms and limit screen time for young students. Union President Randi Weingarten outlined ten demands in a speech at the National Press Club, emphasizing that teaching should be led by humans, with an immediate ban on AI in elementary schools as a top priority.

The union also proposes banning screens for pre-K through second graders and restricting companion chatbots for students under 16. Weingarten stressed this isn't a total tech ban but a search for the right balance to reduce harm to kids while using technology wisely.

A year-long study by the Brookings Institution found that AI in education could pose significant risks to children's cognitive and social development. Meanwhile, more kids are replacing real friends with AI chatbots, raising concerns among educators.