When to teach AI literacy: The earlier, the better
October 23, 2026
Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds Americans that protecting ourselves online is a responsibility we all share. We teach children to recognize suspicious links, protect personal information and think twice before sharing something online.
Yet as artificial intelligence becomes embedded every day in how children learn, communicate and make decisions, a new question deserves just as much attention. Are we preparing students to understand the technology that is already shaping their lives?
For too many students, the answer is no.
AI is no longer a technology students will encounter someday in the workforce. It is already influencing the information they consume, the tools they use in classrooms and the decisions being made around them. And while schools across the country are experimenting with AI policies and classroom applications, teaching students how these systems actually work remains far less consistent.