Norway plans to almost completely ban elementary school students from using generative AI tools to prevent impact on learning

According to Reuters, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Friday that Norway will implement an almost complete ban on the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools by elementary school students while limiting the use of AI by older students in education to avoid its negative impact on learning. Faced with the general decline in educational testing results, the Norwegian government banned the use of smartphones by students in schools in 2024 and re-gave teachers more power to maintain classroom discipline.

Stoere said at a news conference on Friday that using AI could cause younger students to skip some critical steps in the learning process. At the same time, he said that the new regulations will be officially implemented from the new school year beginning at the end of August.

According to guidelines published by the Norwegian government: in principle, AI tools are not allowed to be used at the elementary school level (ages 6 to 13); in middle school (ages 14 to 16), AI tools can be used carefully under the supervision of teachers; and high school students (17 to 19 years old) should learn how to properly use AI to prepare for further education and entry into the workplace in the future.

The Norwegian government believes that although AI has potential value, for young students, relying on AI too early may weaken basic abilities such as reading, writing, calculation, and independent thinking, so it hopes to ensure the quality of learning while cultivating the AI application capabilities needed in the future through age-specific management.